Distribution of Foxp3‐, CD4‐ and CD8‐positive lymphocytic cells in benign and malignant prostate tissue

Abstract

Foxp3 is a transcription factor that inhibits antitumor immune response and is expressed in regulatory T cells (Tregs). High levels of Tregs have been reported in several human cancers. This study investigates the distribution of cells positive for Foxp3, CD4 and CD8 in benign prostatic tissues and prostatic carcinoma. Tissue microarrays were constructed from radical prostatectomy specimens of 36 patients. From each patient, six cores were taken: two cores from cancer, one from benign tissue of each of the peripheral (PZ), transition (TZ) and central zones (CZ) and one from atrophy. Foxp3-, CD4- and CD8-positive cells were more common in cancer than in non-atrophic benign tissue (p < 0.01) and more common in atrophy than in non-atrophic PZ, but did not differ significantly between cancer and atrophy. Cells positive for Foxp3 and CD4 were less prevalent in CZ than in PZ and TZ. Tregs infiltrate more in prostate cancer (PC) than in benign tissue. Their presence in atrophy may have relevance for the hypothesis on atrophy as a potential precursor lesion of PC. CZ has the lowest Treg levels, and a possible role for the low rate of cancer in this zone remains to be investigated.

CD4 helper T cells, CD8 cytotoxic T cells, and FOXP3+ regulatory T cells with respect to lethal prostate cancer

“…7,10,24 In line with previous reports, 12,14,34 our study revealed a high degree of infiltration of both T helper cells as determined by CD4 expression and T cytotoxic cells as determined by CD8 expression. The present study also demonstrates that IHC markers of inflammation are positively related to histopathological classification of inflammation, as all of the three T-cell subtypes were positively associated with the presence of moderate/severe chronic inflammation.…”

Prognostic value of blood mRNA expression signatures in castration-resistant prostate cancer: a prospective, two-stage study

“…Previous studies have reported increased levels of regulatory T cells in patients with prostate cancer, 29 with cells expressing Fox-P3 linked to acquired treatment resistance. 30 In our study, no association was seen with concomitant diseases or treatments; specifically steroid use at the time of blood sampling for expression analyses was not associated with the LPD1 profile and the different LPD groups. Ross and colleagues 31 have also described a prognostic signature for patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer using whole-blood RNA and qRT-PCR analyses of 168 preselected genes that associate with altered cellular and humoral immunity focusing on the monocyte and macrophage lineage.…”

The Suppressive Tumor Microenvironment: A Challenge in Cancer Immunotherapy

“…53 Tregs are rarely seen in enucleated choroidal melanoma, 54 however they are found in human prostate cancer and are more common in the peripheral and transition zones than in the core of the tumor. 55 In gliomas, infiltration of Tregs was correlated with heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) mRNA 56 and progression of the disease. Increased populations of Tregs have been found in hepatocellular carcinoma, and even in nontumorous liver that contains primary hepatic tumors.…”