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BMC Gastroenterology
Published in: BMC Gastroenterology 1/2022

Open Access 01-12-2022 | Colorectal Cancer | Research

Correlation and prognostic implications of intratumor and tumor draining lymph node Foxp3+ T regulatory cells in colorectal cancer

Authors: Bing Yan, Jianmei Xiong, Qianwen Ye, Tianhui Xue, Jia Xiang, Mingyue Xu, Fang Li, Wei Wen

Published in: BMC Gastroenterology | Issue 1/2022

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Abstract

Background

The prognostic value of intratumor T regulatory cells (Tregs) in colorectal cancer (CRC) was previously reported, but the role of these cells in tumor draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) was less addressed.

Methods

A total of 150 CRC stages I-IV were retrospectively enrolled. Intratumor and TDLN Tregs were examined by immunohistochemical assay. The association of these cells was estimated by Pearson correlation. Survival analyses of subgroups were conducted by Kaplan–Meier curves, and the log-rank test and risk factors for survival were tested by the Cox proportional hazard model.

Results

High accumulation of Tregs in tumors was significant in patients with younger age and good histological grade, where enrichment of these cells in TDLNs was more apparent in those with node-negative disease and early TNM stage disease, both of which were more common in early T stage cases. A significant correlation of intratumoral and TDLN Tregs was detected. Patients with higher intratumoral Tregs displayed significantly better PFS and OS than those with lower Tregs. However, no such differences were found, but a similar prognostic prediction trend was found for these cells in TDLNs. Finally, intratumoral Tregs were an independent prognostic factor for both PFS (HR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.95–0.99, P < 0.01) and OS (HR = 0.98, 95% CI 0.95–1.00, P = 0.04) in the patients.

Conclusions

Higher intratumor Tregs were associated with better survival in CRC. Although no such role was found for these cells in TDLNs, the positive correlation and similar prognostic prediction trend with their intratumoral counterparts may indicate a parallelized function of these cells in CRC.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Correlation and prognostic implications of intratumor and tumor draining lymph node Foxp3+ T regulatory cells in colorectal cancer
Authors
Bing Yan
Jianmei Xiong
Qianwen Ye
Tianhui Xue
Jia Xiang
Mingyue Xu
Fang Li
Wei Wen
Publication date
01-12-2022
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Gastroenterology / Issue 1/2022
Electronic ISSN: 1471-230X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-022-02205-0

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