Dendritic and lymphocytic cell infiltration in prostate carcinoma
Yishan Liu1, Thorstein Sæter, Ljiljana Vlatkovic
1Department of Urology, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, and Department of Urology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Histology and Histopathology
|June 5, 2013
Summary
Fewer CD1a⁺ cells in prostate cancer (PCa) correlate with aggressive disease and poorer survival. This immune cell distribution is inversely related to B7-H3 expression on PCa cells.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Prostate cancer (PCa) progression is influenced by the tumor microenvironment.
- Immune cell infiltration, including T lymphocytes and dendritic cells, plays a critical role in cancer immunity.
- B7-H3 is a cell membrane protein implicated as a negative regulator of immune responses in cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distribution of CD1a⁺ cells, CD8⁺, and CD4⁺ T lymphocytes in PCa.
- To correlate immune cell distribution with clinicopathological parameters.
- To examine the relationship between immune cell distribution and B7-H3 expression in PCa.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 151 PCa patients treated with radical prostatectomy (RP).
- Prospective follow-up for a median of 9 years.
- Immunohistochemical staining of whole-mount PCa sections to quantify immune cells (CD1a⁺, CD8⁺, CD4⁺) and B7-H3 expression.
Main Results:
- Low CD1a⁺ cell counts were significantly associated with higher Gleason scores and pT3 pathological stage.
- CD1a⁺ cell numbers correlated positively with intratumoral and stromal CD8⁺ and stromal CD4⁺ lymphocytes.
- Reduced CD1a⁺ cells showed a trend towards impaired biochemical progression-free survival.
- B7-H3 expression inversely correlated with CD1a⁺ cells and intratumoral CD4⁺ lymphocytes, with a similar trend for CD8⁺ lymphocytes.
Conclusions:
- CD1a⁺ cells are potential prognostic markers in prostate cancer.
- The distribution of immune cells in PCa is linked to disease aggressiveness.
- B7-H3 expression may modulate the tumor immune microenvironment in PCa.
