Predictive value of cellular immune response in cervical cancer.
Despite recent advances in the immune mechanisms of cervical cancer (CC), the relapse still remains an actual issue and recognition of new predictive biomarkers is essential.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate possible differences in the primary, in situ, cellular immune response between cervical carcinoma with and without relapse.


METHODS
Paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 61 consecutive women with CC (34 with and 27 without relapse) were immunostained for CD3, CD20 and CD45 cells. Immune cell profile densities were further assessed, assigning scores between 0 and 3: "0" meaning the absence of inflammatory infiltrate, "1+" low, "2+" intense and "3+" intense infiltrate with lymphoid follicles. Statistical analysis was performed in SPSS-13 software, p<0.05.


RESULTS
Statistically significant intra- and peri-tumoral low numbers of several immune cell subtypes are strongly associated with relapse of disease within three and five years in patients with CC (p<0.05); moreover, statistical significant correlations between immune cells and both free survival (CD3: r=0.382; CD20: r=0.404; CD45: r=0.376) and relapse (CD3: r=-0.408; CD20: r=-0.355; CD45: r=-0.354) have been demonstrated. Only CD3 was reported as predictive biomarker of relapse in CC (ANOVA, t-Student, p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Major differences in the cellular immune response among patients with cervical cancer with and without relapse within three and five years have been demonstrated. CD3 may be used as potential prognostic biomarkers, whereas the results are promising for adjuvant immunotherapy.
Ancuta
E
E
Research Department, "Cuza-Vodă" Hospital, Iassy, Romania. eugen01ro@yahoo.com
Ancuţa
Codrina
C
Zugun-Eloae
F
F
Iordache
Cristina
C
Chirieac
Rodica
R
Carasevici
E
E
D000328:Adult; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000276:immunology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000276:immunology*; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology*; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012383:Romania; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
D018951:Antigens, CD20; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017252:CD3 Complex; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens