Abstract
BackgroundAccumulation of tumor-infiltrating mast cells (MCs) predicts poor survival in several cancers after resection. However, its effect on the prognosis of patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) is not known.MethodsOur retrospective study included 135 patients who underwent potentially curative resection for CRLM between 2001 and 2010. Expression of tryptase, MAC387, CD83, and CD31, which are markers for MCs, macrophages, mature dendritic cells, and vascular endothelial cells, respectively, was determined via immunohistochemistry of resected tumor specimens. The relationship between immune cell infiltration and long-term outcome was investigated.ResultsThe median follow-up time was 48.4 months for all patients and 57.5 months for survivors. Overall survival (OS) rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 91.0, 62.4, and 37.4 %, respectively. Five-year disease-free survival (DFS) and OS rates were 21.6 and 38.1 %, respectively, in patients with high MC infiltration, and 42.6 and 55.6 %, respectively, in patients with low MC infiltration (p < 0.01 for both DFS and OS). Infiltration of other types of immune cells did not correlate with survival. Multivariate analyses indicated that hypoalbuminemia and high peritumoral MC infiltration were significant predictors of unfavorable OS.ConclusionHigh peritumoral MC infiltration predicts poor prognosis in patients who underwent hepatectomy for CRLM. The number of MCs in metastatic lesions is important for predicting the prognosis of CRLM patients and as an indication of therapy.
Highlights
Accumulation of tumor-infiltrating mast cells (MCs) predicts poor survival in several cancers after resection
We found that 54 % (73 of 135) of patients were in the high peritumoral MC group
We demonstrated an association between the degree of peritumoral MC infiltration and clinical outcome following resection of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM)
Summary
Accumulation of tumor-infiltrating mast cells (MCs) predicts poor survival in several cancers after resection. Its effect on the prognosis of patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) is not known. Different types of infiltrating immune cells [mast cells, (MCs), macrophages (Mφs), dendritic cells (DCs), neutrophils, and lymphocytes] surround tumors in variable numbers and have different effects on tumor progression [9]. We reported the significance of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, such as regulatory T cells, as a predictor of worse outcome in CRLM patients [10]. Tumor-infiltrating MCs (TIMs) are considered a primary host immune response against cancer. Their function varies among different cancers [11,12,13,14,15,16,17]. The function of TIMs near CRLM has never been reported
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