Prognostic impact of tumor infiltrating FOXP3 positive regulatory T cells in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma at diagnosis.
Tumor-infiltrating immune cells perform a crucial function in host immune reactions against diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). In this study, we have identified a subset of tumor-infiltrating FOXP3-positive regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the initial DLBCL biopsy specimens, and have evaluated their prognostic significance. Ninety six patients with DLBCL were evaluated retrospectively. The pattern of FOXP3 protein expression was evaluated using standard immunohistochemistry in paraffin-embedded tissue samples. Sixty seven of all 96 specimens were stained with antibodies for CD-10, bcl-6 and MUM1 via tissue microarray (TMA) to classify the cases into a germinal center B-cell like (GCB) group and a non-GCB group. The median overall survival (OS) was 28 months. As compared with the others, the patients with higher percentages of FOXP3-positive Tregs on initial tumor biopsy evidenced a significantly longer OS (p = 0.003). Patients classified into the GCB group evidenced a significantly longer OS as compared with the non-GCB group (p = 0.008). When the prognostic factors were evaluated via a multivariate model, the international prognostic index and the percentage of infiltrating FOXP3-positive Tregs in the initial biopsy were identified as independent predictors of OS. In conclusion, the presence of an increased percentage of FOXP3-positive Tregs in DLBCL is predictive of better prognoses.
Lee
Na-Ri
NR
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, 561-756, Republic of Korea.
Song
Eun-Kee
EK
Jang
Kyu Yun
KY
Choi
Ha Na
HN
Moon
Woo Sung
WS
Kwon
Keunsang
K
Lee
Ju-Hyung
JH
Yim
Chang-Yeol
CY
Kwak
Jae-Yong
JY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology*; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis
C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors