title: Lymphocyte and immature dendritic cell infiltrates in differentiated, poorly differentiated, and undifferentiated thyroid carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Numerous studies indicate that papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC) with lymphocytic infiltrates are associated with a less extensive disease at diagnosis and improved disease-free survival. The infiltration of lymphocytes and immature CD1a+ dendritic cells (DC) was characterized in papillary, poorly differentiated (PDC), and undifferentiated (UC) carcinomas to evaluate their association with immunological infiltrates.
  
  
  METHODS
  A series of 527 consecutive cases of thyroid carcinoma treated by total thyroidectomy were investigated by histopathological and immunohistochemical methods. The inflammatory infiltrate was quantified and typed in intratumoral and peritumoral tissues as well as in the controlateral lobe.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intratumoral infiltrate was strongly reduced or absent in PDC and UC. Intense infiltrates were detected in the PTC tall cell variant. In all histotypes, the extent of the intratumoral and peritumoral infiltrates was comparable. Immature DC were detected in PTCs and markedly reduced in PDC and UC. CD1a+ DCs were detected in a small percentage of PDC and UC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Though a relationship between the extent of lymphocyte/DC infiltrates and the prognosis of PTCs could not be demonstrated, tumors with poor prognosis (PDCs, UCs) were characterized by markedly reduced lymphocyte/DC infiltrates. The study appears to confirm the protective role of DC and infiltrating lymphocytes against thyroid tumors.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pathology, Department of Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ugolini
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Basolo
authors.forename: Agnese
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Proietti
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vitti
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Elisei
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Miccoli
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toniolo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018949:Antigens, CD1 / Q000032:analysis; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000032:analysis; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D018949:Antigens, CD1; D018951:Antigens, CD20; C419393:CD1a antigen