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Open Access 01-12-2021 | Research

Prognostic value of immune factors in the tumor microenvironment of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Authors: Sachie Kiryu, Zensho Ito, Machi Suka, Tsuuse Bito, Shin Kan, Kan Uchiyama, Masayuki Saruta, Taigo Hata, Yuki Takano, Shuichi Fujioka, Takeyuki Misawa, Takashi Yamauchi, Hiroyuki Yanagisawa, Nobuhiro Sato, Toshifumi Ohkusa, Haruo Sugiyama, Shigeo Koido

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background

Both activated tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and immune-suppressive cells, such as regulatory T cells (Tregs), in the tumor microenvironment (TME) play an important role in the prognosis of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Methods

The densities of TILs, programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) + T cells, and forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) + T cells were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. The associations of the immunological status of the PDAC microenvironment with overall survival (OS) time and disease-free survival (DFS) time were evaluated.

Results

PDAC patients with a high density of TILs in the TME or PD-1-positive T cells in tertiary lymphoid aggregates (TLAs) demonstrated a significantly better prognosis than those with a low density of TILs or PD-1-negativity, respectively. Moreover, PDAC patients with high levels of Foxp3-expressing T cells showed a worse prognosis than those with low levels of Foxp3-expressing T cells. Importantly, even with a high density of the TILs in TME or PD-1-positive T cells in TLAs, PDAC patients with high levels of Foxp3-expressing T cells showed a worse prognosis than patients with low levels of Foxp3-expressing T cells. A PDAC TME with a high density of TILs/high PD-1 positivity/low Foxp3 expression was an independent predictive marker associated with superior prognosis.

Conclusion

Combined assessment of TILs, PD-1+ cells, and Foxp3+ T cells in the TME may predict the prognosis of PDAC patients following surgical resection.

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Title: Prognostic value of immune factors in the tumor microenvironment of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Sachie Kiryu
Zensho Ito
Machi Suka
Tsuuse Bito
Shin Kan
Kan Uchiyama
Masayuki Saruta
Taigo Hata
Yuki Takano
Shuichi Fujioka
Takeyuki Misawa
Takashi Yamauchi
Hiroyuki Yanagisawa
Nobuhiro Sato
Toshifumi Ohkusa
Haruo Sugiyama
Shigeo Koido
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-021-08911-4

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