Characterization of the Immune Microenvironment in Inflammatory Breast Cancer Using Multiplex Immunofluorescence.
Nahla M Badr1,2, Jack L McMurray3, Irini Danial1
1Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Summary
Investigating the immune microenvironment in inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) reveals distinct immune cell patterns. Specific immune cell distributions correlate with treatment response and patient survival, offering potential for immunotherapy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is an aggressive malignancy.
- The immune microenvironment of IBC is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To profile the immune microenvironment in treatment-naïve IBC samples.
- To identify immune cell signatures associated with treatment response and survival.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a five-color multiplex immunofluorescence panel.
- Analyzed immune cell markers (CD68, CD4, CD8, CD20, FOXP3) in 93 IBC samples.
Main Results:
- Decreased CD4+ and increased FOXP3+ cells were observed in lower-grade tumors.
- Increased CD20+ cells correlated with better chemotherapy response; increased CD4+ cells with improved survival.
- Distinct immune cell co-infiltration patterns were identified across ER+, HER2+, and triple-negative IBC subtypes, with specific patterns correlating with therapeutic response or resistance.
Conclusions:
- IBC exhibits a unique and complex immune cell distribution.
- Findings provide a foundation for understanding IBC immune landscape development and exploring immunotherapy strategies.
