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Updated: Jul 2, 2026
Purification of HLA-G+ Extravillous Trophoblasts from Human Term Placental Tissues for Phenotyping and Functional Analysis
Published on: March 13, 2026
Immune cell profiling in intraplacental and postmolar choriocarcinomas
Zoltan Nagymanyoki1, Michael J Callahan, Mana M Parast
1Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, New England Trophoblastic Disease Center, Donald P. Goldstein, M.D., Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Insights
Intraplacental choriocarcinoma shows no immune cell infiltration. Postmolar choriocarcinoma exhibits a vigorous immune response in adjacent tissues, but not within the tumor itself, revealing distinct immunobiology.
Area of Science:
- Gynecologic Oncology
- Immunology
- Trophoblastic Disease
Background:
- Choriocarcinoma, a gestational trophoblastic neoplasm, presents in intraplacental and postmolar forms.
- Understanding the tumor microenvironment and immune cell interactions is crucial for elucidating choriocarcinoma immunobiology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate immune cell infiltration and antigen profiles in intraplacental and postmolar choriocarcinoma.
- To explore the relationship between immune cells and choriocarcinoma subtypes.
Main Methods:
- Immunolocalization of CD8, Granzyme B (GrB), and FoxP3 was performed on tumor sections.
- Characterization of effector T cytotoxic (Tc) cells, NK cells, and regulatory T (Treg) cells.
Main Results:
- Intraplacental choriocarcinoma showed minimal immune cell infiltration in the tumor and surrounding villi.
- Postmolar choriocarcinoma displayed vigorous immune cell infiltration in adjacent tissues, but not within the tumor.
- A distinct immune cell infiltration border was observed at the edge of postmolar choriocarcinoma.
Conclusions:
- Intraplacental choriocarcinoma is characterized by a lack of significant immune cell response.
- Postmolar choriocarcinoma elicits a strong immune response in the surrounding tissue, yet remains largely devoid of immune cells within the tumor itself.
Objective:
To determine the level of infiltration and antigen profile of immune cells and explore their relationship in intraplacental and postmolar choriocarcinoma to better understand the immunobiology of choriocarcinoma.
Study Design:
Immunolocalization of CD8, Granzyme B (GrB) and FoxP3 was performed on sections prepared from 5 intraplacental and 7 postmolar choriocarcinomas to characterize effector Tc cells (GrB+, CD8+) and GrB- (GrB-, CD8+) Tc cells, GrB+ NK cells (GrB+, CD8-) and Treg (FoxP3+) cells.
Results:
In the case of intraplacental choriocarcinoma, immune cell infiltration was not detected in the surrounding villi or in the tumor. Immune cell infiltration into the implantation site of the placenta with intraplacental choriocarcinoma did not differ from that into the normal pregnancy implantation site. In postmolar choriocarcinoma the immune cell infiltration of the adjacent tissue was vigorous and involved all types of immune cells (Tc, NK, Treg). In 6 of 7 cases of postmolar choriocarcinoma, in spite of the vigorous immune response, immune cells could not be seen in the choriocarcinoma tissue. A sharp infiltration border of immune cells was noted at the edge of the postmolar choriocarcinoma tissue.
Conclusion:
Intraplacental choriocarcinoma is not associated with a vigorous immune cell response. In contrast, postmolar choriocarcinoma is associated with a vigorous immune cell response in adjacent tissues but not the choriocarcinoma tissue itself.
