Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026
Evaluation of Tumor-infiltrating Leukocyte Subsets in a Subcutaneous Tumor Model
Published on: April 13, 2015
Analysis of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
A C Haeffner1, K Zepter, C A Elmets
1Department of Dermatology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Insights
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in skin cancer lesions include cytotoxic T cells. These cells show activity against tumor cells, indicating a potential role in anti-cancer immunity.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Dermatology
- Oncology
Background:
- Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a common skin cancer.
- Understanding the immune microenvironment is crucial for SCC treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in cutaneous SCC and related lesions.
- To investigate the phenotype and function of TILs in SCC.
Main Methods:
- Case series analysis of 21 patients with actinic keratoses, SCC in situ, and invasive SCC.
- Immunohistochemistry and molecular biological analyses (T-cell clonality, cytotoxicity assays).
Main Results:
- CD8+ TILs were identified in SCC and actinic keratosis lesions.
- TILs exhibited a cytotoxic T lymphocyte phenotype (CD3+, TIA1+, HLA-DR+) and were polyclonal.
- TILs from SCC lesions demonstrated cytotoxicity against autologous tumor cells in vitro.
Conclusions:
- Cutaneous SCC lesions harbor a subpopulation of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes.
- These TILs include polyclonal, MHC-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes expressing the TCR-alpha beta heterodimer.
- These findings suggest a role for TILs in the immune response against cutaneous SCC.
Objective:
To characterize tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) within lesions of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and related disorders.
Design:
Case series with 1- and 2-color immunohistologic, molecular biological analysis of T-cell clonality and in vitro cytotoxicity assays.
Setting:
Academic medical center.
Patients:
Twenty-one patients, including 6 with actinic keratoses, 4 with SCC in situ, and 11 with invasive SCC.
Results:
CD8+ TILs were present within lesions of cutaneous SCC and AK. These cells constituted a variable minority of the total T-cell infiltrate, and many expressed a phenotype consistent with major histocompatibility complex-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes: CD3+, TIA1+, CD16-, CD56-, CD57-. They also expressed HLA-DR, suggesting their activation in vivo. Virtually all T cells were T-cell receptor (TCR)-beta + delta, indicating that they expressed the TCR-alpha beta protein heterodimer. Molecular biological analysis of TCR-gamma gene rearrangements by the polymerase chain reaction and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis technique indicated that the TILs were polyclonal. Functional studies suggested that TILs derived from SCC lesions were cytotoxic for autologous tumor cell targets.
Conclusion:
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes within cutaneous SCC lesions contain a subpopulation of polyclonal, major histocompatibility complex-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes expressing the TCR-alpha beta heterodimer.
More Related Videos
07:43Four-color Fluorescence Immunohistochemistry of T-cell Subpopulations in Archival Formalin-fixed, Paraffin-embedded Human Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Samples
Published on: July 29, 2017
07:29Intramucosal Inoculation of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells in Mice for Tumor Immune Profiling and Treatment Response Assessment
Published on: April 22, 2019