title: The prognostic significance and relationship with body composition of CCR7-positive cells in colorectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The host local immune response (LIR) to cancer is a determinant of cancer outcome. Regulation of this local response is largely achieved through chemokine synthesis from the tumor microenvironment such as C-Chemokine-Receptor-7 (CCR7). We examined the LIR measured as CCR7 expression, in colorectal cancers (CRC) and explored relationships with body composition (BC) and survival.
  
  
  METHODS
  A study of paraffin-embedded tissue specimens was carried out in 116 patients with non-metastatic CRC. CCR7 expression was determined by immunohistochemistry. Analysis of computer tomography scans was used to calculate BC parameters. Survival analyses and multivariate regression models were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High CCR7(+) cell density within the tumor stroma and at the margin was significantly associated with increased age, the presence of lymphovascular invasion, higher tumor stage, lymph node metastasis, high Klintrup-Makinen immune score, and myosteatosis. High CCR7(+) cell density in the tumor margin was significantly associated with shorter disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) (P < 0.001). This was also significantly associated with shorter survival in multivariate analysis (HR = 8.87; 95%CI [2.51-31.3]; P < 0.01 for OS and HR = 4.72; 95%CI (1.24-12.9); P = 0.02 for DFS).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that a specific immune microenvironment may be associated with altered host's BC and tumor behavior, and that CCR7 may serve as a novel prognostic biomarker.
authors.affiliation: Antigen Presentation Research Group, Imperial College London, North West London Hospitals Campus, Watford Road, Harrow HA1 3UJ, UK.|Department of Surgery St. Marks Hospital, Watford Road, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 3UJ, UK.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Malietzis
authors.affiliation: Antigen Presentation Research Group, Imperial College London, North West London Hospitals Campus, Watford Road, Harrow HA1 3UJ, UK.|Department of Surgery St. Marks Hospital, Watford Road, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 3UJ, UK.|Department of Histopathology St. Marks Hospital, Watford Road, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 3UJ, UK.
authors.forename: Gui Han
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Antigen Presentation Research Group, Imperial College London, North West London Hospitals Campus, Watford Road, Harrow HA1 3UJ, UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bernardo
authors.affiliation: Section of Investigative Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK.
authors.forename: Alexandra I F
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Blakemore
authors.affiliation: Antigen Presentation Research Group, Imperial College London, North West London Hospitals Campus, Watford Road, Harrow HA1 3UJ, UK.
authors.forename: Stella C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology St. Marks Hospital, Watford Road, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 3UJ, UK.
authors.forename: Morgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moorghen
authors.affiliation: Antigen Presentation Research Group, Imperial College London, North West London Hospitals Campus, Watford Road, Harrow HA1 3UJ, UK.
authors.forename: Hafid O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Al-Hassi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery St. Marks Hospital, Watford Road, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 3UJ, UK.
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Jenkins
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001823:Body Composition; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D054400:Receptors, CCR7 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C515370:CCR7 protein, human; D054400:Receptors, CCR7
keywords: CCR7; body composition; chemokines; colorectal cancer; immunology; outcomes