Number of CD4⁺ Cells and Location of Forkhead Box Protein P3–Positive Cells in Diagnostic Follicular Lymphoma Tissue Microarrays Correlates With Outcome

Abstract

This study has identified differences in immune cell composition of the diagnostic FL lymph node immune microenvironment and these have the potential for use as prognostic biomarkers in a routine histopathology setting.

Highly clonal regulatory T-cell population in follicular lymphoma – inverse correlation with the diversity of CD8+T cells

“…26 Typically, increased numbers of tumor-resident T regs have been linked with poor clinical outcomes in cancer patients. 30,31 In contrast, published reports highlighting the impact of T regs on clinical outcomes in FL have concluded that higher numbers of T regs in FL tissues 31,32 or a primarily perifollicular T reg distribution 7 are associated with better clinical outcomes. Other studies have not reproduced these results.…”

Indolent lymphoma: follicular lymphoma and the microenvironment—insights from the microscope

“…The number and distribution of Foxp3 ϩ Treg cells and T FH cells have been reported to predict clinical prognosis in some, 54,[65][66][67] but not all, 64 studies (see Table 2 in Rimsza and Jaramillo 68 ) Even in those studies that found an effect, the results were inconsistent, with some finding that absolute numbers of Treg cells were important 54 and others 63,69,70 that the pattern (follicular, perifollicular, diffuse) was important in predicting outcome. The impact on outcome has also varied, with some studies finding that increased Treg cells were associated with a good prognosis 54,63 and others finding an association with advanced disease or a poor prognosis.…”

“…The impact on outcome has also varied, with some studies finding that increased Treg cells were associated with a good prognosis 54,63 and others finding an association with advanced disease or a poor prognosis. 69,70 Those investigators who found that increased Treg cells are associated with negative clinical features interpreted these results to suggest that Tregs are primarily affecting immunoreactive T cells that might have tumor-suppressive effects, 70 whereas those who found that increased Treg cells are beneficial propose that they are exerting primarily repressive effects on the neoplastic B cells.…”

“…61,62 Other studies have found no impact of the number of lymphoma-associated macrophages on outcome. 63,64 Lymphoma-associated T cells…”

Clinicobiological, prognostic and therapeutic implications of the tumor microenvironment in follicular lymphoma

“…4 The 10 and FOXP3 + regulatory T cells. 6,7 A high level of CD4 + T lymphocytes was significantly associated with overall survival in some cases, 6 but others studies found no effect. 7 The number of CD8 + T lymphocytes was found to be associated with overall survival and disease-free survival 4,8 but with discrepancies between the studies.…”