A Study of Tumour Infiltrating Lymphocytes (Tils) In Breast Carcinoma and their Immuno-Histochemical Profile

Abstract

Objective: Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) play an important role in mediating immune response against cancer cells and are associated with improved clinical outcomes. The present study was conducted to demonstrate the relative densities of T lymphocytes, CD4+ cells, CD8+ cells, and B-lymphocytes in a series of breast carcinoma. Material and method: Thirty cases of primary breast carcinoma were examine for the histological parameters including histological type, histological grade and lymph node metastases and pattern of inflammatory reaction. Further, immunohistochemical expression in cases with lymphocytic infiltrate was studied in order to classify various lymphocyte subsets. Results: T-cells (CD3+) were present in 96.6% cases of breast cancer, majority of which were CD8+ cells in 90% cases and CD4+ cells in 36.6% cases. B-cells were present in 83.3% cases. Also, insignificant correlation was found between TILs and subtypes with age, menopausal status, histological grades, ER, PR and HER2/neu status and tumor size. No significant correlation was found between CD4, CD8 and CD20 with lymph nodes stage in our study. However, significant correlation was found between CD3 with lymph nodes stage. Conclusion: T lymphocytes and their subsets (especially CD8+ cells) predominated over B lymphocytes quantitatively and qualitatively. They seem to promote neoplastic progression rather than acting as a protective immune response against cancer