title: T cell subpopulations in lymph nodes may not be predictive of patient outcome in colorectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The immune response has been proposed to be an important factor in determining patient outcome in colorectal cancer (CRC). Previous studies have concentrated on characterizing T cell populations in the primary tumour where T cells with regulatory effect (Foxp3+ Tregs) have been identified as both enhancing and diminishing anti-tumour immune responses. No previous studies have characterized the T cell response in the regional lymph nodes in CRC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemistry was used to analyse CD4, CD8 or Foxp3+ T cell populations in the regional lymph nodes of patients with stage II CRC (n = 31), with (n = 13) or without (n = 18) cancer recurrence after 5 years of follow up, to determine if the priming environment for anti-tumour immunity was associated with clinical outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportions of CD4, CD8 or Foxp3+ cells in the lymph nodes varied widely between and within patients, and there was no association between T cell populations and cancer recurrence or other clinicopathological characteristics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate that frequency of these T cell subsets in lymph nodes may not be a useful tool for predicting patient outcome.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Genetics Laboratory, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. roslyn.kemp@otago.ac.nz
authors.forename: Roslyn A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Kemp
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McCall
authors.forename: Han-Seung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Vicky
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anjomshoaa
authors.forename: Anthony E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Reeve
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C508017:IL2RA protein, human; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit