title: FOXP3+ lymphocyte density in pancreatic cancer correlates with lymph node metastasis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if the density of FOXP3+ lymphocytes in primary tumors and lymph nodes in pancreatic cancer correlates with the presence of lymph node metastases.
  
  
  METHODS
  FOXP3+ lymphocyte density in primary pancreatic cancer tissue and draining lymph nodes was measured using immunohistochemistry. We analyzed the clinical and pathological aspects associated with the accumulation of FOXP3+ lymphocytes in pancreatic cancer. We also analyzed the correlation of density of FOXP3+ lymphocytes in lymph nodes with the nodal status and distance from the primary tumor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FOXP3+ lymphocyte density in pancreatic cancer was significantly higher than in paratumoral pancreatic tissue. The density of FOXP3+ lymphocytes in local tumor tissue correlated significantly with the histological grade and overall lymph node status. Furthermore, FOXP3+ lymphocyte density was significantly higher in positive lymph nodes than in negative ones, while it had no correlation with the distance of the lymph node from the primary tumor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FOXP3+ lymphocyte density in primary tumor tissue in patients with pancreatic cancer correlates with lymph node metastasis. Lymph nodes containing metastases having higher FOXP3+ lymphocyte densities than do negative lymph nodes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yongjian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Zunguo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Di
authors.affiliation: Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Ji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Zhongwen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.
authors.forename: Venu G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Pillarisetty
authors.affiliation: Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Deliang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors