Local and distant recurrences in rectal cancer patients are predicted by the nonspecific immune response; specific immune response has only a systemic effect - a histopathological and immunohistochemical study

Abstract

Background: Invasion and metastasis is a complex process governed by the interaction of genetically altered tumor cells and the immunological and inflammatory host reponse. Specific T-cells directed against tumor cells and the nonspecific inflammatory reaction due to tissue damage, cooperate against invasive tumor cells in order to prevent recurrences. Data concerning involvement of individual cell types are readily available but little is known about the coordinate interactions between both forms of immune response.

Colorectal cancer prognosis depends on T-cell infiltration and molecular characteristics of the tumor

“…[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] As in this study, MSI tumors have previously been reported to have a higher degree of T-cell infiltration than MSS tumors. [35][36][37] Yet the potential confounding effect of MSI screening status on the prognostic importance of T-cell infiltration has been considered in only a minority of reports, of which most, 32,36,[39][40][41]46,53,54 but not all, 30,55 found that the better prognosis associated with dense T-cell infiltration was independent of MSI screening status.…”

“…Presence of peri-and intratumoral inflammatory cells has consistently been associated with a better prognosis in colorectal cancer. [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] Many of these reports have been based on routine hematoxylin and eosin stained tissue sections, but an increasing number of studies have used immunohistochemical markers such as the pan T-cell marker CD3. CD3 is a cell surface protein associated with the T-cell receptor.…”

Loss of membranous Ep-CAM in budding colorectal carcinoma cells

“…As local recurrence rates are very low after TME surgery, an artificial selection of 160 patients was made to study the role of biological markers in both local and distant recurrence. 20 Forty stage II and 40 stage III patients without local recurrence or distant metastasis, 40 with distant metastasis and without local recurrence and 40 patients with local recurrence and without distant metastasis were selected. Former results obtained by studying this population 20 indicated sufficient statistical power in this population.…”

“…20 Forty stage II and 40 stage III patients without local recurrence or distant metastasis, 40 with distant metastasis and without local recurrence and 40 patients with local recurrence and without distant metastasis were selected. Former results obtained by studying this population 20 indicated sufficient statistical power in this population. The selection implies that local and distant recurrence percentages cannot be extrapolated towards the total population studied.…”

Transient inflammatory response induced by apoptotic cells is an important mediator of melanoma cell engraftment and growth

“…11 Whereas increased levels of leukocyte infiltration into primary tumors are usually a good prognostic sign, 12 the presence of inflammatory cell infiltrates has been correlated with cytokine and growth factor production, which may provide a favorable microenvironment for neoplastic proliferation. [13][14][15][16] Clearance of apoptotic cells by phagocytes plays a significant role in the resolution of inflammation, 17 and although the lack of an inflammatory infiltrate is by definition a hallmark of death by apoptosis, several lines of investigation have challenged this concept. Indeed, apoptotic cells can evoke an inflammatory response depending on how apoptosis is initiated, in what cell type it occurs and whether or not particular cofactors are present.…”