title: Tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes: A prognostic factor of PSA-free survival in patients with local prostate carcinoma treated by radical prostatectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in local prostate cancer (PC).
  
  
  METHODS
  TILs were counted and routine histological variables were assessed from radical prostatectomy specimens in 188 cases of PC. Immunohistochemical (IHC) characterisation of the lymphocytes was done by using CD4 and CD8 antibodies for detection of T lymphocytes and CD20 antibody for B lymphocytes in tissue microarray construction. The results of the lymphocyte analyses were compared to other prognostic factors and PSA recurrence-free survival (RFS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Strong expression of TILs, CD4, CD8 and CD20 lymphocytes were seen in 28%, 33%, 35% and 15% of the cases, respectively. CD4 and CD8, as well as CD4 and CD20, lymphocytes were correlated to each other (p < 0.0001), but not to clinical or histopathological parameters. Weak expression of TILs was correlated with intracapsular carcinoma (p = 0.004), while perineural invasion (p = 0.017) and capsular invasion (p < 0.0001) were related to strong expression of TILs. Shortened PSA RFS was associated with strong expression of TILs (p = 0.005). In Cox regression analysis, independent predictors of shortened PSA RFS were strong expression of TILs (p = 0.012) and high Gleason score (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TILs are an independent predictor of short PSA RFS in patients with local PC treated by radical prostatectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O. Box 1777, FIN-70210 Kuopio, Finland. vesa.karja@kuh.fi
authors.forename: Vesa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kärjä
authors.forename: Sirpa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aaltomaa
authors.forename: Pertti
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lipponen
authors.forename: Taina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Isotalo
authors.forename: Martti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Talja
authors.forename: Risto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mokka
mesh_terms: D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen