Bone marrow B-lymphocyte subpopulations of breast cancer patients in the prognosis of the disease

Abstract

Introduction. Among the immunological prognostic factors in breast cancer, intratumoral lymphocytes play an important role. Pronounced infiltration of the tumor by CD8 lymphocytes is associated with a favorable prognosis. The expression of transferrin receptor (CD71) on tumor cells, on the contrary, is associated with an unfavorable prognosis. The bone marrow of breast cancer patients has been studied very little in terms of the prognostic role of hematopoietic cells and lymphocyte subpopulations.The study objective was to investigate the bone marrow B-lymphocyte subpopulations of breast cancer patients and evaluate their prognostic value.Materials and methods. Detailed bone marrow studies were carried out in 107 patients who were treated in the department of mammary gland tumors mainly in the period 2013–2016. Thus, the duration of the follow-up period after surgical treatment was mainly from 5 to 8 years. W hen diagnosing patients, a standard study of the receptor status, Her2 / neu, Ki-67 expression, etc. was performed. Morphological examination of the bone marrow (myelogram) was performed in all patients. Clarification of the life expectancy of patients was carried out by personal surveys or through the Registry Office. If possible, the life expectancy of patients, the duration of the period without progression etc. were clarified.Results. In cases with B-lymphocytes of more than 10 %, survival rates were more favorable (p = 0.019). Bone marrow B cells and, in particular, CD10‑positive B-linear precursors may have prognostic value in breast cancer. Thus, CD10 expression on 12 percent or more of bone marrow B cells of breast cancer patients was associated with a more favorable prognosis (p = 0.042). The prognostic role of the CD10 antigen was realized with a follow-up period of more than 5 years. The expression of CD38 on bone marrow B cells is a prognostically favorable factor (overall survival, p = 0.026), the role of which is realized within 5–10 days of follow-up after surgery. Bone marrow B1 lymphocytes had no association with breast cancer prognosis (overall survival), however, they were correlated (p = 0.07) with progression-free survival.Conclusion. Total relative number of (more than 10 %) of bone marrow B-lymphocytes (CD19+) of breast cancer patients were significantly related to the more favorable prognosis (overall survival) primarily because of B-cell precursors (CD10+) CD38+ bone marrow cells were also associated with more favorable prognosis. Levels of B1‑lymphocytes (CD5+) in bone marrow lymphocytes were not related to the prognosis of breast cancer. Prognositic role of B-lineage precursors and CD38‑positive cells was noted in the periods of 5–10 years after operation.