Tumor-infiltrating CD8(+) T lymphocytes associated with clinical outcome in anal squamous cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
The prognostic significance of tumor-infiltrating CD8(+) T lymphocytes in anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) remains unclear. We designed the study to investigate the association between CD8(+) T cells and clinical prognosis among anal SCC patients.


METHODS
The density of CD8(+) T cells was assessed by immunohistochemistry. The numbers of CD8(+) T cells were counted and their relationship with clinicopathological factors and survival was explored.


RESULTS
A strong positive correlation was noted between intratumoral and peritumoral CD8(+) T cells (r = 0.77, P < 0.001). High intratumoral and peritumoral CD8(+) T cells was associated with well tumor differentiation, early-stage diagnosis, and better prognosis (P < 0.05). Better disease-free survival rates were demonstrated in patients with high CD8(+) T cell density in intratumoral nest (P = 0.01); peritumoral stroma (P = 0.004); and both in combination (P = 0.01). High peritumoral CD8(+) T cell was associated with overall survival (P = 0.025). In HIV-infected patients, high CD8(+) T cell density also had association with disease-free survival (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
High tumor-infiltrating CD8(+) T cell density showed the potential to indicate a favorable effect on prognosis and survival for anal SCC patients.
Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego Health System, San Diego, California.|Rebecca and John Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego Health System, San Diego, California.|Department of Colorectal Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Wan-Hsiang
WH
Hu
Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, California.
Katsumi
K
Miyai
Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego Health System, San Diego, California.
Luis C
LC
Cajas-Monson
Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego Health System, San Diego, California.|Rebecca and John Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego Health System, San Diego, California.
Linda
L
Luo
Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, California.
Lin
L
Liu
Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego Health System, San Diego, California.|Rebecca and John Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego Health System, San Diego, California.
Sonia L
SL
Ramamoorthy
D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006678:HIV / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
CD8+ T cell; anal squamous cell carcinoma; disease-free survival; human immunodeficiency virus; tumor immunity