A High Number of CD8+ T Cells Infiltrated in NSCLC Tissues is Associated With a Favorable Prognosis

Abstract

We investigated the number of intratumoral tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), including CD4(+), CD8(+), and CD25(+) T cells, in nonsmall cell lung cancers (NSCLC) and their correlation with patient survival time. Tumor specimens from 30 NSCLC patients were consecutively obtained during surgery. Patient survival status was monitored. Based on survival time, patients were divided into 2 groups: 5-year survival group and 5-year nonsurvival group. CD4(+), CD8(+), and CD25(+) T cells that infiltrated tumors were detected and counted by immunohistochemistry. Patients with a lower number of TILs and CD8(+) T cells showed significantly shorter survival time compared with those with a higher number (P < 0.05). However, the number of CD4(+) and CD25(+) T cells in tumors was not correlated with survival time in patients with NSCLC (P > 0.05). These data demonstrate that high numbers of CD8(+) T cells among TILs is a strong indicator for a favorable clinical outcome.

Targeting the immune system for management of NSCLC: the revival?

“…Retrospective analysis has suggested that high tumor infiltration with CD4+ and/or CD8+ T cells is associated with improved survival of patients with early-stage (stages I to IIIA) NSCLC [23][24][25]. In another study, the presence of higher numbers of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells in cancer nests compared with cancer stroma in patients with stage IV NSCLC was an independent predictor of better survival; similar results were found for infiltrating macrophages [26].…”

Combination of low vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF‐A)/VEGF receptor 2 expression and high lymphocyte infiltration is a strong and independent favorable prognostic factor in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer

“…This is important, because different localization of the lymphocytes may indicate a different prognostic impact. 9,20,21 Furthermore, VEGF-A/VEGFR-2 expression was scored in neoplastic epithelial cells; however, we know that this is only a piece of the complex interplay between tumor cells, endothelium, and stromal cells in angiogenesis. Because little is known about the more precise localization of the interplay between angiogenesis and lymphocytes, this issue should be addressed in future studies.…”

Growth and metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma is potentiated by BMP4-mediated immunosuppression

“…[1][2][3][4][5] The types of inflammatory cells that infiltrate tumors correlate with patient prognosis. [6][7][8][9] Although tumor cells control the abundance and function of tumor-infiltrating immune cells to create a milieu that supports tumor growth and dissemination, [10][11][12][13][14] the specific genes expressed in tumor cells that create an immunosuppressive microenvironment have not been fully defined.…”