Chie Sakimura1, Hiroaki Tanaka2, Takahiro Okuno3, Soichiro Hiramatsu1, Kazuya Muguruma1, Kosei Hirakawa1, Hideki Wanibuchi3, Masaichi Ohira1. 1. Department of Surgical Oncology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Osaka, Japan. 2. Department of Surgical Oncology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Osaka, Japan. Electronic address: hiroakitan@med.osaka-cu.ac.jp. 3. Department of Molecular Pathology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Osaka, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The role of tumor-infiltrating B cells in the tumor microenvironment is still unclear. Recent studies have reported that B cells and tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) that contain B cell follicles correlate with the favorable prognosis of cancer patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between tumor-infiltrating B cells and clinicopathological features in gastric cancer. METHODS: Tumor blocks were obtained from 226 patients with stage Ib to stage IV gastric cancer. The density of CD20+ B cells within the tumor and in the invasive margin area was assessed using immunohistochemistry. We also evaluated CD3+ T cells, CD21+ follicular dendritic cells, Bcl6+ germinal center B cells, and PNAd+ high endothelial venules to show the presence of TLSs. RESULTS: Tumor-infiltrating B cells were mostly organized as clusters that were surrounded by CD3+ T cells. The B cell area contained follicular dendritic cells and some clusters contained Bcl6+ B cells. High endothelial venules were present around follicles. We identified these follicles as TLSs. A high number of CD20+ B cells were associated with significantly better overall survival, and multivariate analysis also showed that CD20 high was one of the independent predictors of prognosis. In addition, there was a significant correlation between CD20+ B cell and CD8+ T cell infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: B cells mostly infiltrated tumors as TLSs and were associated with better prognosis in patients with gastric cancer.
BACKGROUND: The role of tumor-infiltrating B cells in the tumor microenvironment is still unclear. Recent studies have reported that B cells and tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) that contain B cell follicles correlate with the favorable prognosis of cancerpatients. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between tumor-infiltrating B cells and clinicopathological features in gastric cancer. METHODS:Tumor blocks were obtained from 226 patients with stage Ib to stage IV gastric cancer. The density of CD20+ B cells within the tumor and in the invasive margin area was assessed using immunohistochemistry. We also evaluated CD3+ T cells, CD21+ follicular dendritic cells, Bcl6+ germinal center B cells, and PNAd+ high endothelial venules to show the presence of TLSs. RESULTS:Tumor-infiltrating B cells were mostly organized as clusters that were surrounded by CD3+ T cells. The B cell area contained follicular dendritic cells and some clusters contained Bcl6+ B cells. High endothelial venules were present around follicles. We identified these follicles as TLSs. A high number of CD20+ B cells were associated with significantly better overall survival, and multivariate analysis also showed that CD20 high was one of the independent predictors of prognosis. In addition, there was a significant correlation between CD20+ B cell and CD8+ T cell infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: B cells mostly infiltrated tumors as TLSs and were associated with better prognosis in patients with gastric cancer.
Authors: Mario M Soldevilla; Helena Villanueva; Naiara Martinez-Velez; Daniel Meraviglia-Crivelli; Marta M Alonso; Javier Cebollero; Ashwathi P Menon; Montserrat Puigdelloses; Fernando Pastor Journal: Oncoimmunology Date: 2018-04-09 Impact factor: 8.110
Authors: Elin Sjöberg; Magnus Frödin; John Lövrot; Artur Mezheyeuski; Martin Johansson; Ulrika Harmenberg; Lars Egevad; Per Sandström; Arne Östman Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2018-10-08 Impact factor: 7.640