Abstract
The induction of an anti-cancer immune responses is potentially associated with the efficacy of anti-cancer therapy. Recent studies have indicated that sinus macrophages in regional lymph nodes are involved in anti-cancer immune responses in the cancer microenvironment. In the present study, we investigated the correlation between lymphocyte infiltration in cancer tissues and macrophage activation in regional lymph nodes. We retrospectively identified 294 patients with gastric cancer who underwent surgery from 2008 to 2012. Using immunohistochemistry, we evaluated CD169-expression on CD68-positive macrophages, and the density of CD8-postive lymphocytes in tumor microenvironment. We statistically examined the correlation between CD169 and CD8 expression, and performed Cox regression analysis of potential prognostic factors, including CD169 and CD8 expression, for cancer-specific survival (CSS) in patients with total and advanced gastric cancer. CD169 overexpression in lymph node sinus macrophages (LySMs) was positively correlated to the density of CD8-positive lymphocytes in primary cancer tissues (R = 0.367, p < 0.001). A high density of CD8-positive T lymphocytes in the primary site and a high level of CD169 expression in LySMs were independently associated with greater CSS in patients with total and advanced gastric cancer (p < 0.05 for all). The expression on CD169 in LySMs is a predictor of a favorable clinical course in patients with gastric cancer, and might be useful for evaluating anti-cancer immune responses.
Highlights
Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers, with about 865,000 patients with this disease dying worldwide each year [1]
Since it is well known that CD169 expression was restricted in CD68+ lymph node sinus macrophages (LySMs) in the lymph node, the expression on CD169 in LySMs was evaluated as the ratio of CD169+ to CD68+ cells (Figure 2B)
We found that the ratio of CD169+ to CD68+ cells was positively correlated to the density of CD8+ Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in both total and advanced gastric cancer
Summary
Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers, with about 865,000 patients with this disease dying worldwide each year [1]. Various treatments including cancer immunotherapies have been used to treat gastric cancer, but the prognosis remains poor. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have been approved to treat patients with gastric cancer. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are involved in anti-cancer immune responses with a high density of such cells in cancer tissues associated with a favorable prognosis in various cancers, including gastric cancer [2,3,4,5]. A high density of TILs in cancer tissues is suggested to be associated with a better clinical effect of chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer [6]. The induction of an anti-cancer immune responses is necessary to improve the efficacy of anticancer therapy
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
