The Prognostic Significance of the Tumor-Infiltrating FoxP3-Positive Regulatory T Cells in Gastric Carcinoma.
- Author:
Sang Jae NOH
1
;
Shin Young PARK
;
Kyung Ryoul KIM
;
Chan Young KIM
;
Keun Sang KWON
;
Ho Sung PARK
;
Ho LEE
;
Myoung Ja CHUNG
;
Woo Sung MOON
;
Kyu Yun JANG
Author Information
1. Department of Pathology, Research Institute of Clinical Medicine and Institute for Medical Sciences, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea. kyjang@chonbuk.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
T-lymphocytes, regulatory;
FoxP3 protein, human;
Stomach neoplasms
- MeSH:
Autoimmune Diseases;
Disease-Free Survival;
Forkhead Transcription Factors;
Head;
Humans;
Light;
Lymph Nodes;
Microscopy;
Neoplasm Metastasis;
Prognosis;
Stomach Neoplasms;
T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
- From:Korean Journal of Pathology
2010;44(1):9-15
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are known to be key regulators of immune responses in patients with autoimmune disease and infection and also for attenuating antitumor immunity by the host. It has been reported that high numbers of tumor-infiltrating Tregs might be associated with poor clinical outcomes for several malignant tumors. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the impact of tumor-infiltrating Tregs on the prognosis of gastric carcinoma patients. METHODS: The immunohistochemical staining for anti-fork head Box P3 (FoxP3) antibody was performed by using a 3 mm core from the tumor specimens of each of the 173 gastric cancer patients for constructing a tissue microarray. FoxP3-positive Tregs were quantified by calculating the numbers of positive cells per 5 high-power fields on light microscopy. Thereafter, the 173 patients were subdivided into the low Tregs group (< or = 3/5 high power fields [HPF], n = 41) and the high Tregs group (> 3/5 HPF, n = 132). RESULTS: The high Tregs group was significantly associated with a higher stage, more invasion depth and lymph node metastasis (p = 0.009, p = 0.036, p = 0.006, respectively). The high Tregs group showed significantly poorer overall survival and event-free survival (p = 0.004, p = 0.017, respectively) on the univariate analysis. The Tregs group and the tumor, node and metastasis stage were also independent prognostic factors that were significantly associated with overall survival (p = 0.025, p < 0.001, respectively) by multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that a high number of tumor-infiltrating FoxP3-positive Tregs could be an indicator of poor long term survival for gastric carcinoma patients.
