Immune Contexture and Differentiation Features Predict Outcome in Bladder Cancer
Ann Taber1, Frederik Prip1, Philippe Lamy2
1Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
European Urology Oncology
|March 1, 2022
Summary
Immune cell markers and tumor features impact bladder cancer (BC) patient outcomes. High PD-1/PD-L1 expression affects recurrence risk differently based on tumor invasiveness, influencing treatment response.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Improved risk assessment is crucial for optimizing clinical management in bladder cancer (BC).
- Understanding immune cell subpopulations and cancer cell-intrinsic features can refine prognostic models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between immune cell subpopulations, cancer cell features, and clinical outcomes in BC.
- To determine the relationship between these factors and response to first-line chemotherapy.
Main Methods:
- Multiplex immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry were used to analyze tumor tissues from 785 BC patients.
- Digital image analysis quantified immune cell markers (e.g., CD3, CD8, FOXP3, PD-1, PD-L1) and cancer cell features.
- Statistical analyses included Cox regression and ROC analyses to identify prognostic markers.
Main Results:
- Specific immune subpopulations were independently linked to clinical outcomes.
- High programmed death 1 (PD-1) and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression correlated with increased recurrence/progression risk in non-muscle-invasive BC but decreased risk in muscle-invasive BC.
- Basal differentiation features were associated with a lower response to first-line chemotherapy.
- A combined model of clinical factors and prognosticators improved prediction accuracy for progression and recurrence.
Conclusions:
- Immune cell subpopulations and cancer cell-intrinsic features significantly correlate with diverse clinical outcomes in bladder cancer.
- These findings highlight the prognostic and predictive value of tumor microenvironment components and cancer cell characteristics in BC.
