Does famotidine enhance tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in breast cancer? Results of a randomized prospective pilot study.
Thirty patients with breast cancer were prospectively randomized into case and control groups receiving 40 mg famotidine preoperatively for 10-14 days and routine premedication, respectively. Surgical specimens were evaluated objectively for tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in the center and in the periphery of the tumor along with evaluation of metastatic lymph nodes for reactive changes. Ten famotidine-treated cases (67%) showed significant lymphocytic infiltration in the center compared to 4 controls (27%) (p = 0.03). Eleven cases (77%) had significant lymphocytic infiltration in the periphery (p = 0.03) compared to 5 controls (33%). Considering both sites, lymphocytic response was significant in 9 (60%) cases as opposed to only 3 (20%) controls (p = 0.03). This response did not correlate with the stage, grade of tumor or menopausal status of patients in either group. Seventy-eight percent (78%) of the cases showed significant reactive changes in the metastatic lymph nodes as compared to 22% in controls (p < 0.01). This study suggests that famotidine enhances tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in breast cancer and might have potential as an immunomodulator. A larger confirmatory study is suggested.
Parshad
Rajinder
R
Department of Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. rparshad@yahoo.com
Kapoor
Sorabh
S
Gupta
Siddhartha Datta
SD
Kumar
Arvind
A
Chattopadhyaya
Tushar K
TK
D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015738:Famotidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology
D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D015738:Famotidine