TY - JOUR
T1 - FOXP3+ regulatory T cells affect the development and progression of hepatocarcinogenesis
AU - Kobayashi, Noritoshi
AU - Hiraoka, Nobuyoshi
AU - Yamagami, Wataru
AU - Ojima, Hidenori
AU - Kanai, Yae
AU - Kosuge, Tomoo
AU - Nakajima, Atsushi
AU - Hirohashi, Setsuo
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2007/2/1
Y1 - 2007/2/1
N2 - Purpose: Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes represent the host immune response to cancer. CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) suppress the immune reaction. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinicopathologic significance and roles of Tregs and CD8 + Tcells during hepatocarcinogenesis. Experimental Design: We examined the infiltration of FOXP3+ Tregs and CD8+ T cells in the tumor stroma and nontumorous liver parenchyma using 323 hepatic nodules including precursor lesions, early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and advanced HCC, along with 39 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas and 59 metastatic liver adenocarcinomas. We did immunohistochemical comparative studies. Results: The prevalence of Tregs was significantly higher in HCC than in the nontumorous liver (P < 0.001). The patient group with a high prevalence of Tregs infiltrating HCC showed a significantly lower survival rate (P = 0.007). Multivariate analysis revealed that the prevalence of Tregs infiltrating HCC was an independent prognostic factor. The prevalence of Tregs increased in a stepwise manner (P < 0.001) and that of CD8+ T cells decreased during the progression of hepatocarcinogenesis (P < 0.001). Regardless of the presence of hepatitis virus infection or histopathologic evidence of hepatitis, the prevalence of Tregs was significantly increased in non-tumorous liver bearing primary hepatic tumors. Conclusions: Tregs play a role in controlling the immune response to HCC during the progression of hepatocarcinogenesis. It has been suggested that primary hepatic cancers develop in liver that is immunosuppressed by a marked infiltration of Tregs. A high prevalence of Tregs infiltrating HCC is thought to be an unfavorable prognostic indicator.
AB - Purpose: Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes represent the host immune response to cancer. CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) suppress the immune reaction. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinicopathologic significance and roles of Tregs and CD8 + Tcells during hepatocarcinogenesis. Experimental Design: We examined the infiltration of FOXP3+ Tregs and CD8+ T cells in the tumor stroma and nontumorous liver parenchyma using 323 hepatic nodules including precursor lesions, early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and advanced HCC, along with 39 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas and 59 metastatic liver adenocarcinomas. We did immunohistochemical comparative studies. Results: The prevalence of Tregs was significantly higher in HCC than in the nontumorous liver (P < 0.001). The patient group with a high prevalence of Tregs infiltrating HCC showed a significantly lower survival rate (P = 0.007). Multivariate analysis revealed that the prevalence of Tregs infiltrating HCC was an independent prognostic factor. The prevalence of Tregs increased in a stepwise manner (P < 0.001) and that of CD8+ T cells decreased during the progression of hepatocarcinogenesis (P < 0.001). Regardless of the presence of hepatitis virus infection or histopathologic evidence of hepatitis, the prevalence of Tregs was significantly increased in non-tumorous liver bearing primary hepatic tumors. Conclusions: Tregs play a role in controlling the immune response to HCC during the progression of hepatocarcinogenesis. It has been suggested that primary hepatic cancers develop in liver that is immunosuppressed by a marked infiltration of Tregs. A high prevalence of Tregs infiltrating HCC is thought to be an unfavorable prognostic indicator.
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U2 - 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-06-2363
DO - 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-06-2363
M3 - Article
C2 - 17289884
AN - SCOPUS:33847384529
VL - 13
SP - 902
EP - 911
JO - Clinical Cancer Research
JF - Clinical Cancer Research
SN - 1078-0432
IS - 3
ER -