Distribution patterns of dendritic cells and T cells in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas correlate with prognoses.
OBJECTIVE
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, accounts for 30% to 40% of all lymphoma cases. However, long-term survival by current chemotherapy was achieved in only 40% of patients, warranting the development of novel therapeutic strategies including T-cell immunotherapy. However, the level of baseline immune activation in DLBCL is unclear.


METHODS
The density and distribution of dendritic cells and T cells in 48 cases of primary DLBCL was evaluated by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
Increased numbers of intratumoral CD1a+ dendritic cells and increased S100+ cells and CD45RO+ T cells around the edges of the tumors were seen in 10 of 48 (21%), 9 of 48 (19%), and 10 of 48 (21%) cases and these were correlated with a favorable prognosis (P = 0.015; P = 0.070, and P = 0.017, respectively), along with increased granzyme B+ T cells in tumor beds (P = 0.013). Increased peritumoral T cells were correlated with tumor expression of HLA-DR (r = 0.446; P = 0.002). Extranodal lymphomas showed fewer tumor-associated CD45RO+ T cells (r = -0.407; P = 0.001) and less conspicuous dendritic cell infiltrates.


CONCLUSIONS
In DLBCL, the presence of baseline antitumor immune response is associated with favorable clinical outcome, and thus adjuvant T-cell immunotherapy may further boost treatment responses.
Chang
Kung-Chao
KC
Department of Pathology and Institute of Clinical Medicine, Medical College, National Cheng Kung University, 138 Sheng-Li Road, Tainan, Taiwan. changkc@mail.ncku.edu.tw
Huang
Guan-Cheng
GC
Jones
Dan
D
Lin
Ya-Hui
YH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018949:Antigens, CD1 / Q000032:analysis*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D018949:Antigens, CD1; C419393:CD1a antigen; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens