Abstract
Tumor-infiltrating immune cells are associated with tumor prognosis, although the type of immune cells responsible for local immune escape is still unknown. This study examined the relationship between gastric cancer survival and the density of immune cells, including CD8+ T cells, CD20+ B cells, and CD33+/p-STAT1+ cells, which represent myeloid-derived suppressor cells, to evaluate the role of immune cells in the progression of gastric cancer. One hundred pathologically confirmed specimens were obtained from stage IIIa gastric cancers between 2003 and 2006 at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, China. The density of tumor-infiltrating immune cells in tumor tissue was examined using immunohistochemical analysis. Clinicopathologic parameters and the survival rate were analyzed in relation to the density of immune cells. A high density of CD8+ T cells and CD20+ B cells was associated with a good clinical outcome, but a high density of CD33+/p-STAT1+ cells was associated with a poor clinical outcome. Most importantly, the density of CD33+/p-STAT1+ cells was an independent prognostic factor and inversely related to the infiltration of CD8+ T cells. Although the infiltration of CD8+ T cells and CD20+ B cells is involved in the progression of gastric cancer, these data suggest that CD33+/p-STAT1+ cells play a central role in the regulation of the local immune response, suggesting that CD33+/p-STAT1+ cells might be therapeutic targets in gastric cancer.
Highlights
IntroductionLiu Department of Cardiology, Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510260, Guangdong Province, China
This study examined the relationship between gastric cancer survival and the density of immune cells, including CD8? T cells, CD20? B cells, and CD33?/p-STAT1? cells, which represent myeloid-derived suppressor cells, to evaluate the role of immune cells in the progression of gastric cancer
The results showed that the density of CD8? T cells, CD20? B cells, and CD33?/p-STAT1? cells in tumors was a useful criterion for the prediction of survival in advanced gastric cancer patients
Summary
Liu Department of Cardiology, Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510260, Guangdong Province, China. Gastric cancer is one of the most aggressive diseases worldwide, in Asian countries, such as China [1]. Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death each year due to the resistance and intolerance of this cancer to cytotoxic therapy [2,3,4]. New therapeutic strategies are needed to treat gastric cancer. Immunotherapy has received increased attention because antibodies targeting immune checkpoint molecules and therapeutic vaccines have been identified [5,6,7,8]; identifying patients who are suitable for immune therapy is critical
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