The prognostic significance of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes for primary melanoma varies by sex

Prognostic value of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in melanoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…According to a previous study, 32 studies were included in which the prognostic value of TILs and CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, FOXP3+, and CD20+ lymphocytes was investigated in patients with melanoma. For TIL response markers, the studies in which TILs were quantified as absent, non-brisk and brisk (focal TIL infiltrate and when TILs present across the entire base or throughout the substance of the tumor) [14][15][16] as well as absent, mild or scanty, moderate and marked (focal, multifocal, or diffuse across the entire extent of the tumor) 11,17,18 were included. In this study, both the non-brisk TILs and mild or scanty TILs were defined as non-brisk TILs, the brisk TILs and marked TILs were defined as brisk TILs, but the moderate TILs were analyzed alone.…”

“…Therefore, 72 full-text articles were assessed, among which 41 met our inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. 4,[10][11][12][13][15][16][17][18]28,[34][35][36] Of the excluded literature, 11 studies reported no hazard ratios or Kaplan-Meier curves; 9 studies reported the outcome only in terms of metastasis survival or metastasis-free survival; 6 studies reported the prognostic role of TILs in multiple tumors, including melanoma, and the hazard ratios or Kaplan-Meier curves in melanoma were not available; 5 studies evaluated FOXP3 expression in tumor cells instead of TILs or TILs in tumor stroma. The study characteristics of the remaining 41 studies that were included in the final meta-analysis are shown in Table 1.…”

“…In a few studies which mentioned the specific treatment, 28,43,58,59 OS was defined as the time from the date of start of the treatment to death or last follow-up, DFS was defined as the time from the date of start of the treatment to the date of first recurrence and/or disease progression (regional or distant metastases) or last follow-up, RFS was defined as the time from the date of start of the treatment to the date of the clinical recurrence. In two studies involved in Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), 16,52 RFS and OS were calculated from SLNB to an event (either recurrence or death) or until last follow-up. In the remaining studies, OS was defined as the time from pathological diagnosis to the time of death or last follow-up, DFS was defined as the time from pathological diagnosis to the date of first recurrence and/or disease progression (regional or distant metastases) or last follow-up, RFS was defined as the time from pathological diagnosis to the date of the recurrence.…”

“…Some studies have indicated a distinct correlation between different TIL intensities or grades and different prognosis values; the higher presence of TILs or brisk TILs predict a lower rate of sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastases or favorable survival in melanoma. 11 Considering the great heterogeneity of TILs and their number and distribution within the tumor, most groups have quantified TILs as absent, nonbrisk and brisk, [12][13][14][15][16] while others have quantified TILs as absent, mild or scanty, moderate and marked, 11,17,18 moreover, as the TIL grade increases, the hazard ratio of melanoma patient survival is different. However, different subsets of TILs have different or even opposing functions in the tumors.…”

A new perspective: Exploring future therapeutic strategies for cancer by understanding the dual role of B lymphocytes in tumor immunity

“…Tumor development involves intricate biological processes, including the dynamic relationships between the immune cells and tumor cells, which have distinct associations with tumor immunity. 1,2 Although current tumor immunity research has focused upon the augmentation of T-cell-mediated immunity, B cells are becoming increasingly appreciated as crucial players. There are tumor-infiltrating B lymphocytes that can produce IgG antibodies (Abs) to inhibit tumor growth by identifying tumor antigens.…”