Lymphocyte recruitment into the tumor site is altered in patients with MSI-H colon cancer

Kristen M. Drescher, Poonam Sharma, Patrice Watson, Zoran Gatalica, Stephen N. Thibodeau, Henry T. Lynch

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

The ability of the host to mount an appropriate immune response to aberrant cells is one factor that determines prognosis in cancer patients. Naturally occurring regulatory T cells (T regs; CD4+ CD25+ cells) are key regulators of peripheral tolerance. It has been suggested that high levels of T regs are detrimental to the patient in some forms of cancer, but the role of these antigen-specific cells in individuals with colorectal cancers with high levels of microsatellite instability is unknown. Herein, we examined the ability of individuals with MSI-H or microsatellite stable colon cancer to recruit lymphocytes to the tumor site. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on archived paraffin-embedded specimens from a total of 38 individuals with MSI-H (n = 25) or MSS (n = 13) colon cancers to determine the proportion of CD3+, CD8+ and CD25+ cells infiltrating the tumor site. Patients with MSI-H colon cancers had increased percentages of CD8+ TILs (cytotoxic T cells) as compared to individuals with MSS colon cancer (47.3 vs. 24.04% of the infiltrate CD8+, respectively). No differences in the levels of CD25+ T cells were observed between individuals with MSI-H colon cancers and MSS colon cancers (0.53 vs. 0.54% CD25+, respectively). Together, these data suggest that the survival advantage enjoyed by patients with MSI-H colorectal cancer may, in part, be attributed to the increased cytolytic response, but not to an antigen-specific immunosuppressive response in MSS patients.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)231-239
Number of pages9
JournalFamilial Cancer
Volume8
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2009

Keywords

  • Colorectal cancer
  • HNPCC
  • Lymphocytes
  • MSI high
  • T regs

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics
  • Oncology
  • Genetics(clinical)
  • Cancer Research

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