Increased interleukin-35 expression in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes correlates with poor prognosis in patients with breast cancer.
Interleukin-35 (IL-35) is a recently discovered inhibitory cytokine, which is firstly discovered to be produced by regulatory T cells (Tregs) and proposed as a key effector molecule of Treg function. This study aims to analyze the correlation between IL-35 expression in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) of breast cancer tissue and patients' clinical characteristics. Plasma IL-35 was also determined in 60 patients with breast invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and 30 healthy women by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. IL-35 expression in the tissue specimens was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. It was shown that 39.1%, 43.6% and 17.3% of the 110 patients were absent, weak, and strong IL-35 expression in the TILs, respectively. Strong IL-35 expression in TILs was significantly associated with age >50years, tumor size >2cm, TNM stage III, and negative ER (All P<0.05). Patients with elevated IL-35 expression in TILs had significantly worse progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) than patients with weak or no IL-35 expression (All P<0.05). High plasma IL-35 levels were significantly associated with TNM stage III and lymph node metastasis (All P<0.05). Plasma IL-35 level and IL-35 expression in the TILs of breast cancer tissues may be a valuable biomarker in the development and prognosis of IDC.
Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Qi Lu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical College, Binzhou 256603, Shandong, China.
Zhonghua
Z
Zhao
Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Qi Lu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
Xi
X
Chen
Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Qi Lu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
Shengnan
S
Hao
Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical College, Binzhou 256603, Shandong, China.
Rui
R
Jia
Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical College, Binzhou 256603, Shandong, China.
Nana
N
Wang
Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical College, Binzhou 256603, Shandong, China.
Shaoshui
S
Chen
Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical College, Binzhou 256603, Shandong, China.
Mianli
M
Li
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Qi Lu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
Chuanxin
C
Wang
Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Qi Lu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China. Electronic address: haitingmao@yahoo.com.
Haiting
H
Mao
D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015996:Survival Rate; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007378:Interleukins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C532417:interleukin-35, human
Breast cancer; Interleukin-35; Invasive ductal carcinoma; Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes