title: Prognostic value of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in colorectal cancer.
abstract: Clinical follow-up data of 276 colorectal adenocarcinoma patients treated in Kuopio University Hospital between 1976 and 1986 and followed up for a mean of 14 years were analysed. The clinical findings were correlated with tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and with histological and quantitative factors including nuclear parameters and volume-corrected mitotic index. In univariate survival analysis, TNM classification, Dukes' stage, histological grade, and TILs were significant predictors of survival. TNM classification, Dukes' stage, and TILs also predicted recurrence-free survival. In multivariate analysis, TILs were an independent prognostic factor of survival in all cases, as well as in patients with T1-4N0-3M0 and T1-4N1-3M1. TILs also independently predicted recurrence-free survival. TILs can provide important prognostic information in colorectal cancer to be used in evaluating for adjuvant therapy in different tumour stages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, University of Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Ropponen
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Eskelinen
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Lipponen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alhava
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Kosma
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015993:Life Tables; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016019:Survival Analysis