PURPOSE: The role of infiltrating B cells in hepatocellular carcinoma has been overlooked for many years. This study is aimed to delineate the distribution, prognostic value, and functional status of B cells in human hepatocellular carcinoma. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Immunohistochemistry was used to investigate the distribution and clinical significance of infiltrating CD20(+) B cells in a series of 120 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The results were further tested in an independent series of 200 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The functional status of CD20(+) B cells was determined by flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and in vitro coculture assay. RESULTS: Infiltrating CD20(+) B cells were predominantly concentrated in the tumor invasive margin, compared with the peri- and intratumor areas. High density of margin-infiltrating B lymphocytes (MIL-B) positively correlated with small tumor size, absence of vascular invasion, and increased density of CD8(+) T cells (P < 0.05). Survival analyses revealed that increased number of MIL-Bs and their penetration through the tumor capsule were significantly associated with improved overall and recurrence-free survival, and were identified as independent prognosticators for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (P < 0.05). Importantly, the results were further validated in another independent hepatocellular carcinoma cohort. Moreover, we found that MIL-Bs featured an atypical memory phenotype (IgD(-)IgG(+)CD27(-)CD38(-)), expressed surface markers characteristic of antigen-presenting cells, possessed tumor-killing potential by producing IFN-γ, interleukin 12p40 (IL-12p40), granzyme B, and TRAIL, and acted in cooperation with CD8(+) T cells. CONCLUSIONS: The profile of CD20(+) B cells in situ is a new predictor of prognosis for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and provides a novel target for an optimal immunotherapy against this fatal malignancy.
PURPOSE: The role of infiltrating B cells in hepatocellular carcinoma has been overlooked for many years. This study is aimed to delineate the distribution, prognostic value, and functional status of B cells in humanhepatocellular carcinoma. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Immunohistochemistry was used to investigate the distribution and clinical significance of infiltrating CD20(+) B cells in a series of 120 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The results were further tested in an independent series of 200 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The functional status of CD20(+) B cells was determined by flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and in vitro coculture assay. RESULTS: Infiltrating CD20(+) B cells were predominantly concentrated in the tumor invasive margin, compared with the peri- and intratumor areas. High density of margin-infiltrating B lymphocytes (MIL-B) positively correlated with small tumor size, absence of vascular invasion, and increased density of CD8(+) T cells (P < 0.05). Survival analyses revealed that increased number of MIL-Bs and their penetration through the tumor capsule were significantly associated with improved overall and recurrence-free survival, and were identified as independent prognosticators for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (P < 0.05). Importantly, the results were further validated in another independent hepatocellular carcinoma cohort. Moreover, we found that MIL-Bs featured an atypical memory phenotype (IgD(-)IgG(+)CD27(-)CD38(-)), expressed surface markers characteristic of antigen-presenting cells, possessed tumor-killing potential by producing IFN-γ, interleukin 12p40 (IL-12p40), granzyme B, and TRAIL, and acted in cooperation with CD8(+) T cells. CONCLUSIONS: The profile of CD20(+) B cells in situ is a new predictor of prognosis for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and provides a novel target for an optimal immunotherapy against this fatal malignancy.
Authors: George V Sharonov; Ekaterina O Serebrovskaya; Diana V Yuzhakova; Olga V Britanova; Dmitriy M Chudakov Journal: Nat Rev Immunol Date: 2020-01-27 Impact factor: 53.106
Authors: Tullia C Bruno; Peggy J Ebner; Brandon L Moore; Olivia G Squalls; Katherine A Waugh; Evgeniy B Eruslanov; Sunil Singhal; John D Mitchell; Wilbur A Franklin; Daniel T Merrick; Martin D McCarter; Brent E Palmer; Jeffrey A Kern; Jill E Slansky Journal: Cancer Immunol Res Date: 2017-08-28 Impact factor: 11.151
Authors: Anthony R Cillo; Cornelius H L Kürten; Tracy Tabib; Zengbiao Qi; Sayali Onkar; Ting Wang; Angen Liu; Umamaheswar Duvvuri; Seungwon Kim; Ryan J Soose; Steffi Oesterreich; Wei Chen; Robert Lafyatis; Tullia C Bruno; Robert L Ferris; Dario A A Vignali Journal: Immunity Date: 2020-01-07 Impact factor: 31.745