Loss of B7.2 (CD86) and intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (CD54) expression is associated with decreased tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes in diffuse B-cell large-cell lymphoma.
Tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T-lymphocytes (T-TILs) are thought to be relevant to immunosurveillance of several tumor types including B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. B- and T-lymphocyte interactions via cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs), recognition molecules (HLAs), and costimulatory molecules (CSMs) are necessary for optimal antigen-specific T-cell activation to occur and may be important in generating effective host T-TIL responses. We previously found that low T-TIL response (CD8+ T cells < 6%) correlates with statistically shorter relapse-free survival in patients with diffuse large-cell lymphoma (DLCL). We now extend our observations in 71 DLCL patients by analyzing malignant B-cell expression of the following molecules important in T-cell activation: (a) recognition molecules [MHC I (MAS and MCA) and MHC II (HLA-DR, -DP, -DQ)]; (b) CAMs [leukocyte function antigen 1 (CD11a and CD18) and intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (CD54)]; and (c) CSMs [B7.1 (CD80) and B7.2 (CD86)]. Eighteen patients (25%) had low a T-TIL response, and 53 patients (75%) had a high T-TIL response. Overall, expression of the MHC class H molecules HLA-DR and HLA-DQ was most conserved. The loss of B7.2 (P = 0.04), intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (P = 0.0004), MAS (P = 0.02), and HLA-DR (P = 0.0004) expression was significantly associated with decreased T-TIL response. In 100% of patients with low T-TIL responses, at least one HLA, CAM, or CSM was undetectable on the malignant B cells by immunohistochemical staining (mean number of molecules lost = 2.67). In contrast, 49% of patients with high T-TIL responses had no losses in HLA, CAM, or CSM expression (mean number of molecules lost = 0.89). The mean number of absent molecules (HLA, CAM, or CSM) was significantly associated with T-TIL response (P = 0.0001). We conclude that loss of HLA, CAM, or CSM expression on malignant B cells is associated with a poor host T-cell immune response. In addition, because patients with low T-TIL response had lost expression of multiple cellular adhesion, recognition, and costimulatory molecules, our results suggest that a combination of immunorestorative therapies may be required to generate effective antitumor T-cell responses in B-cell DLCL.
Stopeck
A T
AT
Department of Medicine, Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson 85724, USA. astopeck@azcc.arizona.edu
Gessner
A
A
Miller
T P
TP
Hersh
E M
EM
Johnson
C S
CS
Cui
H
H
Frutiger
Y
Y
Grogan
T M
TM
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D018122:B7-1 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D051940:B7-2 Antigen; D018821:CD18 Antigens / Q000097:blood; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D006682:HLA-DP Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / Q000097:blood; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D018122:B7-1 Antigen; D051940:B7-2 Antigen; D018821:CD18 Antigens; C497964:CD86 protein, human; D006682:HLA-DP Antigens; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1