Prognostic significance of tumour-infiltrating T lymphocytes and T-cell subsets in de novo diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a multiparameter flow cytometry study.
Tumour-infiltrating T lymphocytes (TIL-T) have been implicated in playing a role in controlling tumour growth. We evaluated TIL-T in 55 cases of de novo diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) using three- or four-colour flow cytometric immunophenotyping (FCI). The percentage of TIL-T varied from 3% to 72% of total viable cellular events (mean 32 +/- 20%). The CD4:CD8 ratio varied from 0.17 to 13 (mean 2.3 +/- 2.2). Cases with >/= 20% T cells and those with CD4:CD8 ratios > or = 2.0 showed a significantly better overall survival (P = 0.017 and P = 0.034 respectively). These findings were independent of clinical stage at diagnosis. The T-cell percentage and CD4:CD8 ratio were moderately correlated (Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.47, P = 0.001) and multivariate analysis revealed that the association of the two factors with prognosis was mutually dependent. The T cells in 23 cases were studied for CD45RO. The mean percentage of total T cells expressing CD45RO was 86 +/- 10%. There was a trend towards better survival for those patients with a higher percentage of CD45RO+ T cells (P = 0.06). These results suggest that TIL-T, particularly CD4+ T cells, may play a role in the control of DLBCL, and measurement of T-cell percentage and T-cell subsets using FCI may be useful in predicting the clinical behaviour of DLBCL.
Xu
Y
Y
Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 3523 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9072, USA.
Kroft
S H
SH
McKenna
R W
RW
Aquino
D B
DB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D017254:Leukemic Infiltration; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens