title: The accumulation and prognosis value of tumor infiltrating IL-17 producing cells in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of IL-17 producing cells in tumors is controversial. In the present study, we investigated the prognostic value of measuring tumor-infiltrating IL-17 producing cell levels in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunohistochemical staining was performed to investigate the levels of IL-17+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), as well as CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and CD57+ natural killer (NK) cells from 181 ESCC patients. The prognostic value of measuring the densities of IL-17+TILs and the correlation with CTLs and NK was evaluated. IL-17 producing cells were detected in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissues. The IL-17 producing cells were major CD4 positive, but Foxp3 negative. The median level of IL-17+TILs was 3.90 cells/high power microscopic field (HPF). The density of IL-17 producing cells correlated negatively with T stage (P=0.042). The higher densities of tumor infiltrating IL-17+ lymphocytes were associated with better overall survival (P=0.031). Furthermore, we found that there were positive correlations between levels of IL-17 producing cells and the densities of CD8+cells, as well as CD57+cells (r=0.198, P=0.008 for CD8+ cells and r=0.261, P<0.001 for CD57+ cells, respectively). The prognosis analysis also showed that the higher levels of CD8+ CTLs and CD57+ NK cells correlated with better overall survival of ESCC patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that tumor infiltrating IL-17 producing cells in ESCC patients may have protective roles in the tumor microenvironment and may be treated as a prognostic marker for ESCC patients.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China and Department of Experimental Research, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Xiao-dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ke-lin
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: She
authors.forename: Jing-jing
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ju-gao
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yi-bin
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jing-ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Jian-chuan
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Xia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018959:CD57 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D018959:CD57 Antigens; D020381:Interleukin-17