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01-05-2010 | Original Article

Intratumoral CD8⁺ T/FOXP3⁺ cell ratio is a predictive marker for survival in patients with colorectal cancer

Authors: Hiroyuki Suzuki, Nobuhito Chikazawa, Takehiko Tasaka, Junji Wada, Akio Yamasaki, Yoshiki Kitaura, Masae Sozaki, Masao Tanaka, Hideya Onishi, Takashi Morisaki, Mitsuo Katano

Published in: Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy | Issue 5/2010

Abstract

The human immune system consists of a balance between immune surveillance against non-self antigens and tolerance of self-antigens. CD8⁺ T cells and CD4⁺ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are the main players for immune surveillance and tolerance, respectively. We examined immunohistochemically the immunological balance at the tumor site using 94 surgically resected colorectal cancer tissues. Forkhead box P3 (FOXP3)⁺ cells were considered to be Tregs in the present study. The number of intratumoral FOXP3⁺ cells (itFOXP3⁺ cells) was positively correlated with lymph node metastases (P = 0.030). itCD8⁺ T/itFOXP3⁺ cell ratio negatively correlated with pathological stages (P = 0.048). Next, relationship between the number of itCD8⁺ T cells or itFOXP3⁺ cells and survival prognosis in 94 patients who underwent a curative resection was analyzed. Only itCD8⁺ T/itFOXP3⁺ cell ratio positively correlated with disease-free survival (0.023) and overall survival (P = 0.010). Multivariate analysis indicated that itCD8⁺ T/itFOXP3⁺ cell ratio is an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.035) of overall survival. The number of itFOXP3⁺ cells positively correlated with transforming growth factor-beta TGF-β production at the tumor site (P = 0.020). In conclusion, itCD8⁺ T/itFOXP3⁺ cell ratio is a predictive marker for both disease-free survival time and overall survival time in patients with colorectal cancer. Importantly, itCD8⁺ T/itFOXP3⁺ cell ratio may be an independent prognostic factor. And, tumor-producing TGF-β may contribute to the increased number of itFOXP3⁺ cells.

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Title: Intratumoral CD8+ T/FOXP3+ cell ratio is a predictive marker for survival in patients with colorectal cancer
Authors: Hiroyuki Suzuki
Nobuhito Chikazawa
Takehiko Tasaka
Junji Wada
Akio Yamasaki
Yoshiki Kitaura
Masae Sozaki
Masao Tanaka
Hideya Onishi
Takashi Morisaki
Mitsuo Katano
Publication date: 01-05-2010
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy / Issue 5/2010
Print ISSN: 0340-7004
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0851
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-009-0781-9

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