title: Characterization of the intra-prostatic immune cell infiltration in androgen-deprived prostate cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our goal was to study the hormonal regulation of immune cell infiltration in prostate cancer patients treated by androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) using an optimized computer-assistance quantification approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  The relative density of immune cell subtypes (CD3(+), CD8(+), CD20(+), CD56(+), CD68(+) and Foxp3(+)) was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in archived prostate specimens from control patients (radical prostatectomy only, n=40) and ADT-treated patients (ADT prior to radical prostatectomy, n=35) using an image analysis software and a whole-slide scanner.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ADT-treated patients had significantly increased relative density of CD3(+) (p<0.001) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes (p<0.001) as well as CD68(+) macrophages (p<0.001). Elevated abundance of CD56(+) Natural Killer (NK) cells was associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer progression (p=0.044), while a high density of CD68(+) macrophages was related to an increased risk of biochemical recurrence (p=0.011).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate that the infiltration of specific immune cell subtypes is modulated by ADT. Furthermore our data confirm that NK cells have a protective role against tumor progression while macrophages seem to favor the development of advanced prostate cancer.
authors: Research Centre of the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Notre-Dame Hospital and Institut du cancer de Montréal. 1560 Sherbrooke East, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors: Philippe O
authors: PO
authors: Gannon
authors: Alexis O
authors: AO
authors: Poisson
authors: Nathalie
authors: N
authors: Delvoye
authors: Réjean
authors: R
authors: Lapointe
authors: Anne-Marie
authors: AM
authors: Mes-Masson
authors: Fred
authors: F
authors: Saad
mesh_terms: D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000728:Androgens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003534:Cyproterone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005485:Flutamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016729:Leuprolide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000276:immunology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D000728:Androgens; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D005485:Flutamide; D003534:Cyproterone; D016729:Leuprolide