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Syrnioti A, Petousis S, Newman LA, Margioula-Siarkou C, Papamitsou T, Dinas K, Koletsa T. Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Molecular Subtype-Specific Immune Landscapes with Therapeutic Implications. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2094. [PMID: 38893213 PMCID: PMC11171372 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16112094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is characterized by distinct molecular subtypes with unique biological and clinical features. This systematic review aimed to identify articles examining the differences in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) across different TNBC molecular subtypes. Six studies meeting inclusion criteria were analyzed, utilizing gene expression profiling and bioinformatic analyses to classify TNBC samples into molecular subtypes, as well as immunohistochemistry and cell deconvolution methods to characterize the TIME. Results revealed significant heterogeneity in immune cell composition among TNBC subtypes, with the immunomodulatory (IM) subtype demonstrating robust immune infiltration, composed mainly of adaptive immune cells along with an increased density of CTLA-4+ and PD-1+ TILs, high PD-L1 tumor cell expression, and upregulation of FOXP3+ Tregs. A more immunosuppressive TIME with a predominance of innate immune cells and lower levels of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) was observed in luminal androgen receptor (LAR) tumors. In mesenchymal stem-like (MSL) tumors, the TIME was mainly composed of innate immune cells, with a high number of M2 tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), while the BL and M tumors displayed poor adaptive and innate immune responses, indicating an "immune-cold" phenotype. Differential activation of signaling pathways, genomic diversity, and metabolic reprogramming were identified as contributors to TIME heterogeneity. Understanding this interplay is crucial for tailoring therapeutic strategies, especially regarding immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Syrnioti
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Stamatios Petousis
- 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (S.P.); (K.D.)
| | - Lisa A. Newman
- Department of Breast Surgery, New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA;
| | - Chrysoula Margioula-Siarkou
- MSc Program in Gynaecologic Oncology and Breast Oncology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Theodora Papamitsou
- Laboratory of Histology-Embryology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Konstantinos Dinas
- 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (S.P.); (K.D.)
| | - Triantafyllia Koletsa
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
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Xu JL, Yang MX, Lan HR, Jin KT. Could immunoscore improve the prognostic and therapeutic management in patients with solid tumors? Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 124:110981. [PMID: 37769534 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
The Immunoscore (ISc) is an emerging immune-based scoring system that has shown potential in improving the prognostic and therapeutic management of patients with solid tumors. The ISc evaluates the immune infiltrate within the tumor microenvironment (TME) and has demonstrated superior predictive ability compared to traditional histopathological parameters. It has been particularly promising in colorectal, lung, breast, and melanoma cancers. This review summarizes the clinical evidence supporting the prognostic value of the ISc and explores its potential in guiding therapeutic decisions, such as the selection of adjuvant therapies and recognizing patients likely to profit from immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). The challenges and future directions of ISc implementation are also discussed, including standardization and integration into routine clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Lun Xu
- Department of Dermatology, Jinhua Fifth Hospital, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321000, China
| | - Meng-Xiang Yang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321000, China
| | - Huan-Rong Lan
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Hangzhou Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310002, China.
| | - Ke-Tao Jin
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321000, China.
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Aldrees R, Siegal GP, Wei S. The Peritumoral CD8 + /FOXP3 + Cell Ratio Has Prognostic Value in Triple-negative Breast Cancer. Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol 2023; 31:621-628. [PMID: 37615661 DOI: 10.1097/pai.0000000000001147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Compelling data has demonstrated the prognostic significance of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a subtype generally associated with a poor clinical outcome but highly heterogeneous in nature. There have been limited studies investigating the importance of subsets of T cells in TILs. Further, the significance of intratumoral versus peritumoral TILs remains controversial. We examined the prognostic value of tumor-associated CD8 + cytotoxic T cells and FOXP3 + regulatory T cells in 35 chemotherapy-naive TNBC cases with a tumor-host interface in the tissue sections. The CD8 + and FOXP3 + cell count was expressed by immunoreactive cells per high-power field in an average of 10 high-power fields. There was a wide range of CD8 + and FOXP3 + T cells within the peritumoral and intratumoral stroma. Both CD8 + and FOXP3 + TILs were significantly higher at the former location as compared with the latter ( P <0.0001 and 0.003, respectively). The numbers of CD8 + and FOXP3 + T cells, either within peritumoral or intratumoral stroma, were not significantly associated with distant relapse-free or disease-specific survival. However, the peritumoral CD8 + /FOXP3 + ratio of TILs was significantly associated with prolonged relapse-free survival ( P =0.04) and disease-specific survival ( P =0.02). This association was not observed with the CD8 + /FOXP3 + ratio of intratumoral TILs. These observations suggest that the immunologic balance in the tumor microenvironment might determine antitumor immunity. Further, the peritumoral TILs appear to play a more important role in the progression of TNBC when compared with the intratumoral TILs, thus reaffirming the necessity of revisiting the method for the assessment of TILs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rana Aldrees
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Gene P Siegal
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Shi Wei
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS
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Sun GY, Zhang J, Wang BZ, Jing H, Fang H, Tang Y, Song YW, Jin J, Liu YP, Tang Y, Qi SN, Chen B, Lu NN, Li N, Li YX, Ying JM, Wang SL. The prognostic value of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes, programmed cell death protein-1 and programmed cell death ligand-1 in Stage I-III triple-negative breast cancer. Br J Cancer 2023; 128:2044-2053. [PMID: 36966236 PMCID: PMC10205737 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02218-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) represent a robust biological prognostic biomarker in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC); however, the contribution of different subsets of immune cells is unclear. We investigated the prognostic value of immune markers, including stromal TILs (sTILs), CD8+T and FOPX3+T cells, PD-1 and PD-L1 in non-metastatic TNBC. METHODS In total, 259 patients with Stage I-III TNBC were reviewed. The density of sTILs along with the presence of total (t), stromal (s), and intratumoral (i) CD8+T cells and FOPX3+T cells were evaluated by haematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining. Immunohistochemical staining of PD-1, PD-L1 was also conducted. RESULTS All immune markers were positively correlated with each other (P < 0.05). In the multivariate analysis, sTILs (P = 0.046), tCD8+T cells (P = 0.024), iCD8+T cells (P = 0.050) and PD-1 (P = 0.039) were identified as independent prognostic factors for disease-free survival (DFS). Further analysis showed that tCD8+T cells (P = 0.026), iCD8+T cells (P = 0.017) and PD-1 (P = 0.037) increased the prognostic value for DFS beyond that of the classic clinicopathological factors and sTILs. CONCLUSIONS In addition to sTILs, inclusion of tCD8+T, iCD8+T cells, or PD-1 may further refine the prognostic model for non-metastatic TNBC beyond that including classical factors alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang-Yi Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
- Department of Pathology, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, 350014, Fuzhou, China
| | - Bing-Zhi Wang
- Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Yong-Wen Song
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Yue-Ping Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Shu-Nan Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Bo Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Ning-Ning Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Ning Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Ye-Xiong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China.
| | - Jian-Ming Ying
- Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China.
| | - Shu-Lian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China.
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O'Shaughnessy J, Gradishar W, O'Regan R, Gadi V. Risk of Recurrence in Patients with HER2+ Early-Stage Breast Cancer: Literature Analysis of Patient and Disease Characteristics. Clin Breast Cancer 2023; 23:350-362. [PMID: 37149421 DOI: 10.1016/j.clbc.2023.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) overexpression occurs in 15% to 20% of patients with early-stage breast cancers (EBCs). Without HER2-targeted therapy, 30% to 50% of patients relapse within 10 years, many developing incurable metastatic disease. This literature review was designed to identify and validate patient- and disease-related factors associated with recurrence in patients with HER2+ EBC. Peer-reviewed primary research articles and congress abstracts were identified by searching MEDLINE. Articles published in English from 2019 to 2022 were included to identify contemporary treatment options. Results were analyzed for the relationship between risk factors and surrogates of HER2+ EBC recurrence to determine how identified risk factors affected HER2+ EBC recurrence. Sixty-one articles and 65 abstracts that assessed age at diagnosis, body mass index (BMI), tumor size at diagnosis, hormone receptor (HR) status, pathologic complete response (pCR) status, and biomarkers were analyzed. We confirmed the results of previously published reviews reporting residual cancer burden >0, non-pCR, and fewer tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) as risk factors of recurrence. HR status remained an important risk factor for recurrence, with HER2+/HR+ disease more likely to recur. Two or more positive lymph nodes, higher BMI, larger primary tumor size, and low Ki67 were more commonly associated with HER2+ EBC recurrence. The identification of patient and disease factors frequently associated with HER2+ EBC recurrence in the literature provides insight into potential recurrence risk factors. Further investigation into the risk factors identified in this review could lead to improved treatments for patients at high risk for HER2+ EBC recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce O'Shaughnessy
- Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX; Texas Oncology-Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center, Dallas, TX.
| | | | - Ruth O'Regan
- Department of Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
| | - Vijayakrishna Gadi
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL; Translational Oncology Program, University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL
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Sun Y, Wang Y, Lu F, Zhao X, Nie Z, He B. The prognostic values of FOXP3 + tumor-infiltrating T cells in breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. CLINICAL & TRANSLATIONAL ONCOLOGY : OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF SPANISH ONCOLOGY SOCIETIES AND OF THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE OF MEXICO 2023; 25:1830-1843. [PMID: 36692642 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-023-03080-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumor microenvironment is infiltrated by many immune cells, of which Regulatory T (Treg) cells are usually considered as negative regulators of the immune responses. However, the effect of FOXP3+ (forkhead box transcription factor 3) Treg cells infiltrated into the tumor areas on the prognosis of breast cancer is controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to dissect the potential values of FOXP3+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) as a prognosis predictor of breast cancer. METHODS After systematic retrieval of all relevant studies, 28 eligible articles were identified for meta-analysis. Odd ratio (OR), hazard ratio (HR), and 95% confidence interval (CI) were obtained for pooled analyses of pathological complete response (pCR), overall survival (OS), and corresponding forest plots and funnel plots were plotted, respectively. RESULTS Pooled results revealed that patients with higher levels of FOXP3+ TILs experienced better pCR (OR: 1.24, 95% CI 1.09-1.41) and OS (HR: 0.79, 95% CI 0.64-0.97). Subgroup analysis revealed that elevated FOXP3+ TILs were significantly associated with improved pCR (OR: 1.20, 95% CI 1.02-1.40) and OS (HR: 0.22, 95% CI 0.06-0.88) in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive (HER2+) breast cancer patients. Furthermore, FOXP3+ TILs in the stromal area were statistically correlated with the favorable pCR (OR: 1.22, 95% CI 1.08-1.38) and OS (HR: 0.68, 95% CI 0.49-0.96). CONCLUSIONS The predictive role of FOXP3+ TILs in the prognosis of breast cancer is influenced by various factors such as molecular subtype of breast cancer and the location of Treg. In HER2+ breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer, FOXP3+ TILs are associated with better pCR and OS. Additionally, FOXP3+ TILs in stromal represent a favourable prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yalan Sun
- School of Basic-Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ying Wang
- School of Basic-Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fang Lu
- School of Basic-Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xianghong Zhao
- School of Basic-Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhenlin Nie
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210006, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Bangshun He
- School of Basic-Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China. .,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210006, Jiangsu, China.
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Association between CD8+ Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes and the Clinical Outcome of Patients with Operable Breast Cancer Treated with Adjuvant Dose-Dense Chemotherapy-A 10 Year Follow-Up Report of a Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group Observational Study. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14225635. [PMID: 36428728 PMCID: PMC9688913 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14225635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) contribute to breast cancer (BC) prognosis. We investigated the prognostic impact of CD8+ TILs in patients with early breast cancer treated with adjuvant chemotherapy in a large observational clinical trial. Along with a 10 year follow-up, considering the efficacy and safety, we report the results of the translational part of our study. We examined the patients' tumors for total (t), stromal (s), and intratumoral (i) CD8 lymphocyte density (counts/mm2) on tissue-microarray cores. The impact of CD8+ TILs counts on DFS and OS, and its correlation with breast cancer subtypes and standard clinicopathological parameters, were investigated, along with efficacy and safety data. Among the 928 eligible patients, 627 had available CD8+ data. Of which, 24.9% had a high expression of sCD8, iCD8, and total CD8, which were correlated with higher Ki67, TILs density, ER/PgR negativity, and higher histological grade. The 5year DFS and OS rates were 86.1% and 91.4%, respectively. Patients with high iCD8 and tCD8 had longer DFS and OS compared to those with low counts/mm2 (DFS: HR = 0.58, p = 0.011 and HR = 0.65, p = 0.034 and OS: HR = 0.63, p = 0.043 and HR = 0.58, p = 0.020, respectively). Upon adjustment for clinicopathological parameters, iCD8 and tCD8 retained their favorable prognostic significance for DFS and OS, whereas high sCD8 was only prognostic for DFS. Menopausal status, tumor size, and nodal status retained their prognostic significance in all examined multivariate models. CD8+ TILs, and especially their intratumoral subset, represent a potential favorable prognostic factor in early BC.
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The Impact of Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes Densities and Ki67 Index on Residual Breast Cancer Burden following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy. Int J Breast Cancer 2022; 2022:2597889. [PMID: 36133828 PMCID: PMC9484975 DOI: 10.1155/2022/2597889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
To avoid unnecessary neoadjuvant chemotherapy in case anticipating a poor therapy response, it is essential to find the pathological parameters that would predict pathological complete response or at least a decrease in tumor burden following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The purpose of this study is to investigate the hypothesis that tumor infiltrating lymphocytes can predict the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and to find the Ki67 cutoff value that best predicts the benefit of chemotherapy. 153 cases of breast cancer were chosen, based on their molecular subtype: triple negative subtype (77) and luminal, HER2-ve subtype (76). Histopathological assessment of pretherapy core biopsies was conducted to assess variable pathological parameters including TILs rates with the aid of immunohistochemical staining for CD20 and CD3. Moreover, core biopsies were stained for Ki67, and the findings were compared to the residual cancer burden following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. On analyzing and contrasting the two groups, a significant association between molecular subtype and pathological complete response was confirmed, while tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in either group had no effect on therapy response. We used receiver operating characteristic curve analysis to determine that a cutoff of 36% for Ki67 is the most accurate value to predict complete therapy response.
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The Landscape of Tumor-Infiltrating Immune Cells in Feline Mammary Carcinoma: Pathological and Clinical Implications. Cells 2022; 11:cells11162578. [PMID: 36010653 PMCID: PMC9406662 DOI: 10.3390/cells11162578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Feline mammary carcinoma (FMC) shares key molecular and clinicopathological features with human breast cancer. We have herein studied the inflammatory infiltrate of FMC in order to uncover potential therapeutic targets and prognostic markers. To this end, the expression of different markers (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, CD56, FoxP3, CD68 and CD163) was analyzed in total, stromal (s) and intratumoral (i) tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), in 73 feline mammary carcinomas. The results revealed that higher percentages of sCD8+ TILs were associated with longer disease-free survival (p = 0.05) and overall survival (p = 0.021). Additionally, higher percentages of iCD4+ TILs correlated with positive lymph node status (p = 0.003), whereas CD163+ TAMs were associated with undifferentiated tumors (p = 0.013). In addition, sCD3+ (p = 0.033), sCD8+ (p = 0.044) and sCD68+ (p = 0.023) immune cells were enriched in triple negative normal-like carcinomas compared to other subtypes. Altogether, our results suggest that specific subsets of immune cells may play a major role in clinical outcome of cats with mammary carcinoma, resembling what has been reported in human breast cancer. These data further support the relevance of the feline model in breast cancer studies.
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Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs) in Early Breast Cancer Patients: High CD3+, CD8+, and Immunoscore Are Associated with a Pathological Complete Response. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14102525. [PMID: 35626126 PMCID: PMC9139282 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14102525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In 2021, the World Health Organization announced that breast cancer had overtaken lung cancer to become the most common cancer globally, accounting for 12% of all new cancer cases, with younger women resident in low-income countries having the lowest 5-year survival rates. The main aim of the current study was to evaluate the prognostic utility of an innovative, objective, computer-assisted, digital imaging procedure known as the Immunoscore for clinical research (ISCR) as a strategy to reveal the efficiency of the anti-tumor cellular immune landscape of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in biopsies taken from women diagnosed with early breast cancer prior to administration of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgical resection. Our results demonstrated the ability of the ISCR to enumerate tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in the TME and, in particular, to illustrate the spatial arrangement of these cells, which, importantly, correlated with clinical outcome, measured as the pathological complete response. Abstract Background: Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes are associated with a better prognosis in early triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). These cells can be enumerated in situ by the “Immunoscore Clinical Research” (ISCR). The original Immunoscore® is a prognostic tool that categorizes the densities of CD3+ and CD8+ cells in both the invasive margin (IM) and center of the tumor (CT) in localized colon cancer, yielding a five-tiered classification (0–4). We evaluated the prognostic potential of ISCR and pathological complete response (pCR) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Methods: The cohort included 53 TNBC, 32 luminal BC, and 18 HER2-positive BC patients undergoing NACT. Pre-treatment tumor biopsies were immune-stained for CD3+ and CD8+ T-cell markers. Quantitative analysis of these cells in different tumor locations was performed using computer-assisted image analysis. Results: The pCR rate was 44%. Univariate analysis showed that primary tumor size, estrogen-receptor negative, progesterone-receptor negative, luminal vs. HER2-positive vs. TNBC, high Ki-67, high densities (cells/mm2) of CD3 CT, CD8+ CT, CD3+ IM, and CD8+ IM cells were associated with a high pCR. ISCR was associated with pCR following NACT. A multivariate model consisting of ISCR and the significant variables from the univariate analysis showed a significant trend for ISCR; however, the low sample size did not provide enough power for the model to be included in this study. Conclusions: These results revealed a significant prognostic role for the spatial distributions of the CD3+, and CD8+ lymphocytes, as well as the ISCR in relation to pCR following NACT.
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Investigating the Prognostic Relevance of Tumor Immune Microenvironment and Immune Gene Assembly in Breast Carcinoma Subtypes. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14081942. [PMID: 35454849 PMCID: PMC9031175 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14081942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
We hypothesized that different BC subtypes are characterized by spatially distinct tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and that immune gene assembly of metastatic (Met) and non-metastatic (Ctrl) BCs vary across subtypes. Peritumoral, stromal and intratumoral TIL was assessed on 309 BC cases. Hot, cold and immune-excluded groups were defined, and the prognostic role of this classification was assessed. CD4+/CD8+ positivity was analyzed in 75 cases in four systematically predefined tumor regions. Immune gene expression of Met and Ctrl HER2-negative BCs was compared by using NanoString nCounter technology. The amount of TIL infiltration varied greatly within all BC subtypes. Two-third of the cases were cold tumors with no significant survival difference compared to hot tumors. A lower CD4+/CD8+ ratio at the stromal internal tumor region was significantly associated with longer distant metastasis-free survival. The differentially expressed immune genes between Met and Ctrl varied across the studied BC subtypes with TNBC showing distinct features from the luminal subtypes. The TIME is characterized by a considerable heterogeneity; however, low level of TILs does not equate to disease progression. The differences in immune gene expression observed between Met and Ctrl breast carcinomas call attention to the important role of altered immune function in BC progression.
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Zinovkin DA, Lyzikova YA, Nadyrov EA, Petrenyov DR, Yuzugulen J, Pranjol MZI. Gamma-ray irradiation modulates PGRMC1 expression and the number of CD56+ and FoxP3+ cells in the tumor microenvironment of endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Radiat Oncol J 2022; 39:324-333. [PMID: 34986554 PMCID: PMC8743460 DOI: 10.3857/roj.2021.00472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Although the conventional gamma ray brachytherapy has been successful in treating endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma (EC), the molecular and cellular mechanisms of this anti-tumorigenic response remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated whether gamma ray irradiation induces changes in the number of FoxP3+ T-regulatory lymphocytes (Tregs), CD56+ natural killer cells (NK), and the expression of progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Materials and Methods According to the inclusion criteria, 127 cases were selected and grouped into irradiation-treated (Rad+) and control (underwent surgery) groups and analyzed using immunohistochemistry. Predictive prognostic values were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U test, ROC analysis, relative risk, log-rank, Spearman rank tests and multivariate Cox’s regression. Results We observed significant differences (p < 0.001) between the radiation-treated patients and the control groups in FoxP3+ Tregs numbers, CD56+ NK cells and PGRMC1 expression. Gamma ray induced a 3.71- and 3.39-fold increase in the infiltration of FoxP3+ cells, CD56+ NK cells, respectively and 0.0034-fold change in PGRMC1 expression. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed predictive role of the parameters. In the irradiated patients’ group, inverted correlations between clinical unfavorable outcome, FoxP3+ Tregs and CD56+ NK cells were observed. Conclusion Our results suggest an immune-modulating role, specifically by increasing immune cell infiltration, of gamma radiation in the TME which may potentially be utilized as biomarkers in prognostic values.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Jale Yuzugulen
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta, North Cyprus
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Zhou D, Jiang K, Hong R, Lu Q, Xia W, Li M, Zheng C, Zheng Q, Xu F, Wang S. Distribution Characteristics and Prognostic Value of Immune Infiltration in Oligometastatic Breast Cancer. Front Oncol 2021; 11:747012. [PMID: 34858823 PMCID: PMC8632540 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.747012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To assess the distribution characteristics and the prognostic value of immune infiltration in female oligometastatic breast cancer patients. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological data of oligometastatic breast cancer (OMBC) patients diagnosed between June 2000 and January 2020. Immune markers were quantified by immunohistochemistry on FFPE tissues in paired normal breast tissues, primary breast cancers and oligometastatic lesions. Survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox-proportional hazards model. RESULTS A total of 95 female OMBC patients visited Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between June 2000 and January 2020, and 33 of them had matched normal breast tissues, primary cancers and oligometastatic lesions and were reviewed in immune infiltration analysis. CD8 of primary tumors had a higher expression than that in matched normal tissues. The expressions of CD8 and FOXP3 were higher in the primary sites than that in the oligometastatic lesions. CD3, CD4 and CD8 were significantly lower in the intratumoral regions than that in the peritumoral regions both in primary and oligometastatic lesions. Notably, the high percentage of CD3 in the intratumoral oligometastatic lesions predicted the longer PFS and OS, and higher CD4 in the same lesions also predicted a better OS. There was obviously positive correlation between CD4/CD3 and Ki-67 in primary cancers and negative correlation between CD4/CD3 and ER in oligometastatic sites. CONCLUSION We explored immune distribution and evolution in time and space in OMBC to provide new understandings for biological behaviors of this disease and further divided patients in different prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danyang Zhou
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kuikui Jiang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruoxi Hong
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qianyi Lu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wen Xia
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mei Li
- Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chengyou Zheng
- Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiufan Zheng
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fei Xu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shusen Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
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Jørgensen N, Hviid TVF, Nielsen LB, Sønderstrup IMH, Eriksen JO, Ejlertsen B, Gerdes AM, Kruse TA, Thomassen M, Jensen MB, Lænkholm AV. Tumour-infiltrating CD4-, CD8- and FOXP3-positive immune cells as predictive markers of mortality in BRCA1- and BRCA2-associated breast cancer. Br J Cancer 2021; 125:1388-1398. [PMID: 34365471 PMCID: PMC8576013 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-021-01514-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prognostic value of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in breast cancer is well-established. However, the investigation of specific T-cell subsets exclusively in BRCA-associated breast cancer is sparse. METHODS Tumour tissues from 414 BRCA-mutated breast cancer patients were analysed by immunohistochemistry and digital image analysis for expression of CD4, CD8 and FOXP3 immune markers. Distribution of CD4-, CD8- and FOXP3-positive cells and clinicopathological characteristics were assessed according to groups of low or high expression. The prognostic value was evaluated as continuous variables in univariate and multivariate analyses of overall survival and disease-free survival. RESULTS Both CD4 and CD8 expression are associated with histological diagnosis, tumour grade and oestrogen and progesterone receptor expression status. CD4 expression is associated with BRCA gene status. A high percentage of tumour-infiltrating CD4-, CD8- or FOXP3-positive cells is significantly associated with lower mortality in BRCA1- and BRCA2-associated breast cancer and CD8-positive cells are associated with disease-free survival. No heterogeneity according to BRCA gene status was found for the prognostic value of the immune markers. CONCLUSIONS The results support a prognostic role of specific T-cell subsets in BRCA-associated breast cancer and the promising potential of targeting the immune system in the treatment of these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanna Jørgensen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Centre for Immune Regulation and Reproductive Immunology (CIRRI), Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thomas Vauvert F Hviid
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Centre for Immune Regulation and Reproductive Immunology (CIRRI), Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark.
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Lise B Nielsen
- Danish Breast Cancer Group, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ida M H Sønderstrup
- Department of Surgical Pathology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Jens Ole Eriksen
- Department of Surgical Pathology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Bent Ejlertsen
- Danish Breast Cancer Group, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne-Marie Gerdes
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Torben A Kruse
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Mads Thomassen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Maj-Britt Jensen
- Danish Breast Cancer Group, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne-Vibeke Lænkholm
- Department of Surgical Pathology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
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15
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Boisson A, Noël G, Saiselet M, Rodrigues-Vitória J, Thomas N, Fontsa ML, Sofronii D, Naveaux C, Duvillier H, Craciun L, Larsimont D, Awada A, Detours V, Willard-Gallo K, Garaud S. Fluorescent Multiplex Immunohistochemistry Coupled With Other State-Of-The-Art Techniques to Systematically Characterize the Tumor Immune Microenvironment. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:673042. [PMID: 34621785 PMCID: PMC8490683 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.673042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Our expanding knowledge of the interactions between tumor cells and their microenvironment has helped to revolutionize cancer treatments, including the more recent development of immunotherapies. Immune cells are an important component of the tumor microenvironment that influence progression and treatment responses, particularly to the new immunotherapies. Technological advances that help to decipher the complexity and diversity of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) are increasingly used in translational research and biomarker studies. Current techniques that facilitate TIME evaluation include flow cytometry, multiplex bead-based immunoassays, chromogenic immunohistochemistry (IHC), fluorescent multiplex IHC, immunofluorescence, and spatial transcriptomics. This article offers an overview of our representative data, discusses the application of each approach to studies of the TIME, including their advantages and challenges, and reviews the potential clinical applications. Flow cytometry and chromogenic and fluorescent multiplex IHC were used to immune profile a HER2+ breast cancer, illustrating some points. Spatial transcriptomic analysis of a luminal B breast tumor demonstrated that important additional insight can be gained from this new technique. Finally, the development of a multiplex panel to identify proliferating B cells, Tfh, and Tfr cells on the same tissue section demonstrates their co-localization in tertiary lymphoid structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs Boisson
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Grégory Noël
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | | | - Noémie Thomas
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mireille Langouo Fontsa
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Doïna Sofronii
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Céline Naveaux
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hugues Duvillier
- Flow Cytometry Facility, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ligia Craciun
- Department of Pathology, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Denis Larsimont
- Department of Pathology, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ahmad Awada
- Oncology Medicine Department, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Karen Willard-Gallo
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Soizic Garaud
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
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16
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Goldberg J, Pastorello RG, Vallius T, Davis J, Cui YX, Agudo J, Waks AG, Keenan T, McAllister SS, Tolaney SM, Mittendorf EA, Guerriero JL. The Immunology of Hormone Receptor Positive Breast Cancer. Front Immunol 2021; 12:674192. [PMID: 34135901 PMCID: PMC8202289 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.674192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has revolutionized the treatment of cancer patients. The main focus of ICB has been on reinvigorating the adaptive immune response, namely, activating cytotoxic T cells. ICB has demonstrated only modest benefit against advanced breast cancer, as breast tumors typically establish an immune suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with infiltration of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and patients with TNBC have shown clinical responses to ICB. In contrast, hormone receptor positive (HR+) breast cancer is characterized by low TIL infiltration and minimal response to ICB. Here we review how HR+ breast tumors establish a TME devoid of TILs, have low HLA class I expression, and recruit immune cells, other than T cells, which impact response to therapy. In addition, we review emerging technologies that have been employed to characterize components of the TME to reveal that tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) are abundant in HR+ cancer, are highly immune-suppressive, associated with tumor progression, chemotherapy and ICB-resistance, metastasis and poor survival. We reveal novel therapeutic targets and possible combinations with ICB to enhance anti-tumor immune responses, which may have great potential in HR+ breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Goldberg
- Breast Tumor Immunology Laboratory, Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ricardo G. Pastorello
- Breast Tumor Immunology Laboratory, Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Tuulia Vallius
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Janae Davis
- Breast Tumor Immunology Laboratory, Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Yvonne Xiaoyong Cui
- Breast Tumor Immunology Laboratory, Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Judith Agudo
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Adrienne G. Waks
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Tanya Keenan
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Sandra S. McAllister
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Sara M. Tolaney
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Elizabeth A. Mittendorf
- Breast Tumor Immunology Laboratory, Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Research at Harvard, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jennifer L. Guerriero
- Breast Tumor Immunology Laboratory, Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Research at Harvard, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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Smolkova B, Cierna Z, Kalavska K, Miklikova S, Plava J, Minarik G, Sedlackova T, Cholujova D, Gronesova P, Cihova M, Majerova K, Karaba M, Benca J, Pindak D, Mardiak J, Mego M. Increased Stromal Infiltrating Lymphocytes Are Associated with the Risk of Disease Progression in Mesenchymal Circulating Tumor Cell-Positive Primary Breast Cancer Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21249460. [PMID: 33322711 PMCID: PMC7763628 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and the immune infiltration of tumors are closely related to clinical outcomes. This study aimed to verify the influence of stromal lymphocyte infiltration and the immune context of tumor microenvironment on the hematogenous spread and prognosis of 282 chemotherapy naïve primary BC patients. To detect the presence of mesenchymal CTCs, RNA extracted from CD45-depleted peripheral blood was interrogated for the expression of mesenchymal gene transcripts. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were detected in the stromal areas by immunohistochemistry, using CD3, CD8, and CD45RO antibodies. The concentrations of 51 plasma cytokines were measured by multiplex bead arrays. TILs infiltration in mesenchymal CTC-positive patients significantly decreased their progression-free survival (HR = 4.88, 95% CI 2.30–10.37, p < 0.001 for CD3high; HR = 6.17, 95% CI 2.75–13.80, p < 0.001 for CD8high; HR = 6.93, 95% CI 2.86–16.81, p < 0.001 for CD45ROhigh). Moreover, the combination of elevated plasma concentrations of transforming growth factor beta-3 (cut-off 662 pg/mL), decreased monocyte chemotactic protein-3 (cut-off 52.5 pg/mL) and interleukin-15 (cut-off 17.1 pg/mL) significantly increased the risk of disease recurrence (HR = 4.838, 95% CI 2.048–11.427, p < 0.001). Our results suggest a strong impact of the immune tumor microenvironment on BC progression, especially through influencing the dissemination and survival of more aggressive, mesenchymal CTC subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bozena Smolkova
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia; (B.S.); (S.M.); (J.P.); (D.C.); (P.G.); (M.C.); (K.M.)
| | - Zuzana Cierna
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Sasinkova 4, 811 08 Bratislava, Slovakia;
- Department of Pathology, Faculty Hospital, A. Zarnova 11, 917 75 Trnava, Slovakia
| | - Katarina Kalavska
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovakia; (K.K.); (J.M.)
- Translational Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Klenova 1, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Svetlana Miklikova
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia; (B.S.); (S.M.); (J.P.); (D.C.); (P.G.); (M.C.); (K.M.)
| | - Jana Plava
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia; (B.S.); (S.M.); (J.P.); (D.C.); (P.G.); (M.C.); (K.M.)
| | - Gabriel Minarik
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovicova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia;
| | - Tatiana Sedlackova
- Comenius University Science Park, Ilkovicova 8, 841 04 Bratislava, Slovakia;
- Geneton Ltd., Ilkovicova 8, 841 04 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Dana Cholujova
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia; (B.S.); (S.M.); (J.P.); (D.C.); (P.G.); (M.C.); (K.M.)
| | - Paulina Gronesova
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia; (B.S.); (S.M.); (J.P.); (D.C.); (P.G.); (M.C.); (K.M.)
| | - Marina Cihova
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia; (B.S.); (S.M.); (J.P.); (D.C.); (P.G.); (M.C.); (K.M.)
| | - Karolina Majerova
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia; (B.S.); (S.M.); (J.P.); (D.C.); (P.G.); (M.C.); (K.M.)
| | - Marian Karaba
- Department of Oncosurgery, National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, 83310 Bratislava, Slovakia; (M.K.); (J.B.); (D.P.)
| | - Juraj Benca
- Department of Oncosurgery, National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, 83310 Bratislava, Slovakia; (M.K.); (J.B.); (D.P.)
- Department of Medicine, St. Elizabeth University, Namestie 1. maja 1, 811 02 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Daniel Pindak
- Department of Oncosurgery, National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, 83310 Bratislava, Slovakia; (M.K.); (J.B.); (D.P.)
- Department of Oncosurgery, Slovak Medical University, Limbova 12, 83103 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Jozef Mardiak
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovakia; (K.K.); (J.M.)
| | - Michal Mego
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovakia; (K.K.); (J.M.)
- Translational Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Klenova 1, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovakia
- Correspondence:
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18
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Song J, Han J, Liu F, Chen X, Qian S, Wang Y, Jia Z, Duan X, Zhang X, Zhu J. Systematic Analysis of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Receptor ACE2 in Malignant Tumors: Pan-Cancer Analysis. Front Mol Biosci 2020; 7:569414. [PMID: 33195415 PMCID: PMC7649796 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.569414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first detected in patients with pneumonia in December 2019 in China and it spread rapidly to the rest of the world becoming a global pandemic. Several observational studies have reported that cancer is a risk factor for COVID-19. On the other hand, ACE2, a receptor for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, was found to be aberrantly expressed in many tumors. However, the characterization of aberrant ACE2 expression in malignant tumors has not been elucidated. Here, we conducted a systematic analysis of the ACE2 expression profile across 31 types of tumors. Methods Distribution of ACE2 expression was analyzed using the GTEx, CCLE, TCGA pan-cancer databases. We evaluated the effect of ACE2 on clinical prognosis using the Kaplan-Meier survival plot and COX regression analysis. Correlation between ACE2 and immune infiltration levels was investigated in various cancer types. Additionally, the correlation between ACE2 and immune neoantigen, TMB, microsatellite instability, Mismatch Repair Genes (MMRs), HLA gene members, and DNA Methyltransferase (DNMT) was investigated. The frequency of ACE2 gene mutation in various tumors was analyzed. Functional enrichment analysis was conducted in various cancer types using the GSEA method. Results In normal tissues, ACE2 was highly expressed in almost all 31 organs tested. In cancer cell lines, the expression level of ACE2 was low to medium. Although aberrant expression was observed in most cancer types, high expression of ACE2 was not linked to OS, DFS, RFS, and DFI in most tumors in TCGA pan-cancer data. We found that ACE2 expression was significantly correlated with the infiltrating levels of macrophages and dendritic cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and B cells in multiple tumors. A positive correlation between ACE2 expression and immune neoantigen, TMB, and microsatellite instability was found in multiple cancers. GSEA analysis which was carried out to determine the effect of ACE2 on tumors indicated that several cancer-associated pathways and immune-related pathways were hyperactivated in the high ACE2 expression group of most tumors. Conclusion These findings suggest that ACE2 is not correlated with prognosis in most cancer types. However, elevated ACE2 is significantly correlated with immune infiltrating levels, including those of CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and DCs in multiple cancers, especially in lung and breast cancer patients. These findings suggest that ACE2 may affect the tumor environment in cancer patients with COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jukun Song
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guizhou, China
| | - Jing Han
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guizhou, China
| | - Feng Liu
- Department of B Ultrasound, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guizhou, China
| | - Xianlin Chen
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guizhou, China
| | - Shenqi Qian
- Department of Stomatology, Changshun County Medical Group Central Hospital, Guizhou, China
| | - Yadong Wang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guizhou, China
| | - Zhenyu Jia
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Xiaofeng Duan
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guizhou, China
| | - Xiangyan Zhang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guizhou, China
| | - Jianguo Zhu
- Department of Urology, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guizhou, China
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