Human leukocyte antigen class II expression is a good prognostic factor in adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma

Abstract

Attenuated human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I expression is implicated as a major immune escape mechanism in several types of tumor. We previously reported that HLA class I/β2 microglobulin and programmed death ligand-1 expression are prognostic factors in adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma. A recent report suggested that HLA class II expression is also an important prognostic factor for the clinical outcome of programmed death-1 blockade therapy in recurrent/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma. This prompted us to evaluate HLA class II expression in adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma and to compare the findings with the patients’ clinicopathological features. Of the 132 biopsy specimens examined from newly diagnosed patients, lymphoma cells were positive for HLA class II expression in 44 patients (33.3%), whereas programmed death ligand-1 expression was observed on neoplastic cells from nine patients (6.9%) and on stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment in 83 cases (62.9%). HLA class II-positive cases showed a significantly better overall survival compared to the HLA class II-negative cases ( P <0.0001). Patients positive for HLA class II and programmed death ligand-1 microenvironmental expression had significantly better prognosis than the other groups ( P <0.0001). HLA class II-positive and HLA class II-negative groups also showed a significant difference in complete remission rate ( P =0.0421), HLA class I/β2 microglobulin expression ( P =0.0165), and the number of programmed death-1-positive tumor infiltrating cells ( P =0.0020). HLA class II expression was a prognostic factor for overall survival both in univariate and multivariate analyses ( P <0.0001 and P =0.0007, respectively). Our study reveals that HLA class II is a novel prognostic factor in adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma.

TACC3 expression as a prognostic factor in aggressive types of adult T‐cell leukemia/lymphoma patients

“…Several studies, including ours, have identified that the expression of several proteins and genomic alterations is related to the prognosis of ATLL. 15,16,19,20 Additionally, ATLL prognosis is improved by an anti-CCR4 antibody and stem cell transplantation. [34][35][36][37] Notably, none of the patients were treated with anti-CCR4 antibody.…”

“…Tumor cells detected morphological features, including cell size, nuclear atypia such as distinct chromatin, prominent nucleoli, irregular shaped nuclear contours, and so on, as reported in previous studies. 15,19 Vessels and fibroblasts are negative for TACC3, so staining works properly as they are negative controls.…”

Clinicopathological analysis of immunohistochemical expression of CD47 and SIRPα in adult T‐cell leukemia/lymphoma

“…1 All cases were included in our previous study. [25][26][27] The study was approved by the Research Ethics F I G U R E 1 Representative histological (H&E) and immunohistochemical staining of CD47 in ATLL (original magnification, ×400) F I G U R E 2 Histograms for immunohistochemistry, with distribution of the rate of CD47-positive tumor cells. The cut-off points are shown as the median Committee of Kurume University and was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.…”

Tumour‐immune microenvironment in duodenal‐type follicular lymphoma

“…Immunohistochemistry was performed as previously described. 11,12 Antibodies are listed in Table S1.…”