title: Tumour-infiltrating gamma/delta T-lymphocytes are correlated with a brief disease-free interval in advanced ovarian serous carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Significant progress has been made in understanding the molecular biology of ovarian carcinoma. Along with the molecular characteristics of cancer, the patient's response to the tumour may also contribute to survival; in particular, the effect of the immune system may play an important role on survival of cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed the CD3 positive tumour-infiltrating T cells and direct molecular assessment of T cell receptors (TCRs) gamma and beta in 95 advanced ovarian carcinomas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gamma/delta T cells are statistically correlated with a brief disease-free interval (P=0.036). CD3 positive tumour-infiltrating T cells are correlated with a brief disease-free interval and with survival (P=0.004 and P=0.0001, respectively). CD3 positive tumour-infiltrating T cells are associated with clinical responsiveness to chemotherapy (P=0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further studies are required to better understand the role of gamma/delta T cells in ovarian carcinoma, yet these data underline the importance of host immune response to cancer and the need to better study immune mechanisms to modulate the therapeutic treatment of cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology and Oncology and Department of Gynecology, Perinatology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Florence, School of Medicine, Florence, Italy. mariarosaria.raspollini@unifi.it
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Raspollini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Castiglione
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rossi Degl'innocenti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Amunni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villanucci
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Garbini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baroni
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Taddei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology*; D018293:Cystadenoma, Serous / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017252:CD3 Complex; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta