Cd4+ T-cell immune response to large B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma predicts patient outcome.
OBJECTIVE
Previous studies in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and other malignancies have suggested that the presence of host infiltrates in the tumors of these patients may predict a better outcome. This study was undertaken to determine the prognostic importance of the presence of T cells in the biopsy specimens of patients with B-cell NHL.


METHODS
Seventy-two patients with diffuse large B-cell NHL were prospectively evaluated at a single institution between 1987 and 1994. The percentage of CD3+, CD3+/HLA-DR+, CD4+, CD8+, and natural killer cells was determined by flow cytometry in the pretreatment diagnostic biopsy specimen and correlated with patient outcome.


RESULTS
An increase in the percentage CD4+ T cells in the pretreatment tumor biopsies significantly correlated with patient outcome. The percent of CD4+ T cells was also highly correlated with CD3+/HLA-DR+, CD45RO+, and low L-selectin (CD62L) expression, indicating that the CD4+ T cells are activated memory T-helper cells. Those patients with increased numbers of CD4+ T cells, compared with other patients, had a significantly longer 5-year failure-free survival (72% v 43%, respectively; P =.04), as well as a significantly longer 5-year overall survival (65% v 38%, respectively; P =.05). When evaluated in a multivariate model, the International Prognostic Index and more than 20% infiltrating CD4+ T cells in the pretreatment biopsy were significant independent predictors of relapse-free and overall survival.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of increased numbers of activated CD4+ cells in the area of B-cell diffuse large-cell NHL predicts a better prognosis. This finding provides a strong rationale for the investigation of cellular immunotherapy in B-cell NHL.
Ansell
S M
SM
Division of Hematology and Internal Medicine, Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Stenson
M
M
Habermann
T M
TM
Jelinek
D F
DF
Witzig
T E
TE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies