Phenotypic characterization of chronic inflammation in a rare case of endobronchial carcinoma.
This report presents a phenotypical characterization of the immune cell infiltrate in a rare case of endobronchial carcinoma. A patient initially treated for an adenocarcinoma of the esophagus developed an endobronchial carcinoma surrounded by gastric metaplasia distal to a suspected gastrobronchial fistula, 11 years after esophagectomy. Our hypothesis is that the sustained exposure of the bronchial mucosa to a mixed acid and pancreatobiliary refluxate led to chronic inflammation and promoted malignant transformation. We performed an immunohistochemical study of the tumor microenvironment evaluating the density of CD3(+), CD8(+) T lymphocytes, CD20(+) B lymphocytes, CD68(+) macrophages and FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells. Quantification of immune cell density was completed using a novel software-based analysis method. Our results suggest that, within all the tissues analyzed, FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells were present at their highest density in the malignant and metaplastic tissues. The endobronchial metaplasia biopsied several years prior to the detection of the endobronchial adenocarcinoma was already densely infiltrated by B cells and macrophages, when compared to the immune cell infiltrate of the endobronchial carcinoma. Altogether, these observations support the current understanding of carcinogenesis promoted by chronic inflammation.
Gannon
Philippe O
PO
Centre de recherche du CHUM (CRCHUM) and Institut du cancer de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Turcotte
Simon
S
Laporte
Jean-Luc
JL
Saad
Fred
F
Lapointe
Réjean
R
Duranceau
André
A
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001983:Bronchial Fistula / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D001984:Bronchial Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D001996:Bronchopneumonia / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002452:Cell Count; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018450:Disease Progression; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016629:Esophagectomy; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005747:Gastric Fistula / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008679:Metaplasia; D008875:Middle Aged; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000473:pathology; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013270:Stomach / Q000473:pathology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D015703:Antigens, CD; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors