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Intranodal antitumor immunocyte infiltration in node-negative gastric cancers
S Ishigami1, S Natsugoe, S Hokita
1First Department of Surgery, Kagoshima University School of Medicine, Japan. ishiga@med2.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp
Summary
Immunocyte levels, including natural killer (NK) cells and dendritic cells, are higher in lymph nodes near gastric tumors. Decreased levels of these cells correlate with increased tumor recurrence risk.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Gastric cancer patients often exhibit altered immune cell profiles in regional lymph nodes.
- Understanding the distribution and role of immunocytes is crucial for predicting patient outcomes.
- Regional lymph node compartments vary in their immune microenvironment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the status and role of immunocytes, specifically natural killer (NK) cells and dendritic cells, in regional lymph nodes of gastric cancer patients.
- To correlate the infiltration levels of these cells with tumor characteristics and recurrence.
- To analyze the distribution of immunocytes across different lymph node compartments.
Main Methods:
- Study included 49 gastric cancer patients who underwent curative resection with no lymph node metastases.
- Immunocyte infiltration (NK cells, dendritic cells, MIB-1-positive cells) was assessed in regional lymph nodes divided into three compartments.
- Correlation analysis was performed between immunocyte infiltration, tumor invasion depth, and disease recurrence.
Main Results:
- Dendritic cells and MIB-1-positive immunocytes showed increased infiltration in lymph nodes near the primary tumor (compartment 1) compared to more distant compartments.
- Intranodal NK cell infiltration did not significantly differ among compartments.
- Higher infiltration of dendritic and MIB-1-positive cells was observed in submucosal gastric cancer compared to tumors invading beyond the muscularis propria.
- Decreased expression of these immunological markers correlated with recurrent disease, irrespective of tumor depth.
Conclusions:
- Immunocyte levels, particularly dendritic and MIB-1-positive cells, are higher in lymph nodes proximal to the primary gastric tumor.
- Reduced infiltration of these immunocytes is associated with an increased risk of tumor recurrence.
- NK cell infiltration's role may be more directly linked to antitumor effects, especially in lymph nodes near the tumor.