title: Density of tumor-infiltrating FOXP3+ T cells as a response marker for induction chemoradiotherapy and a potential prognostic factor in patients treated with trimodality therapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relationship between the density of tumor-infiltrating T cell subpopulations and the pathological response to induction chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with locally advanced NSCLC, and to assess the impact of T cell density on patient prognosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 64 patients with c-stages IIA-IIIB NSCLC who underwent induction CRT followed by R0 surgery were enrolled. Tumor-infiltrating T cells expressing either FOXP3 or CD8 were detected by immunohistochemical staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean numbers of tumor-infiltrating FOXP3+ T cells were 39.9 for patients with minor pathological responses (n = 9), 18.4 for those with major pathological responses (n = 25), and 12.9 for those with complete pathological responses (n = 30; P &lt;0.001). The number of CD8+ T cells was not associated with pathological responses. Patients with lower FOXP3+ T cell densities showed better survival, although the difference was not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study demonstrated that the density of tumor-infiltrating FOXP3+ T cells indicated the degree of response for induction CRT and prognosis in patients treated with trimodality therapy for locally advanced NSCLC, suggesting that FOXP3+ T cells may be target for adjunct immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, NHO Yamaguchi-Ube Medical Center, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shien
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Soh
authors.forename: Eisuke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toyooka
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okabe
authors.forename: Shinichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyoshi
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001706:Biopsy; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D059186:Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors