Evaluation of multiple immune cells and patient outcomes in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Hui Wang; Chanjuan Su; Ziteng Li; Changchun Ma; Liangli Hong; Zhe Li; Xiaonan Ma; Yien Xu; Xiaolong Wei; Yiqun Geng; Weifeng Zhang; Penghao Li; Penghao Li; Jiang Gu; Jiang Gu

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1091098

Frontiers in Immunology (Feb 2023)

Evaluation of multiple immune cells and patient outcomes in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Hui Wang,
Chanjuan Su,
Ziteng Li,
Changchun Ma,
Liangli Hong,
Zhe Li,
Xiaonan Ma,
Yien Xu,
Xiaolong Wei,
Yiqun Geng,
Weifeng Zhang,
Penghao Li,
Penghao Li,
Jiang Gu,
Jiang Gu

Affiliations

Hui Wang: Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and Personalized Medicine, Center of Collaborative and Creative Center, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
Chanjuan Su: Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and Personalized Medicine, Center of Collaborative and Creative Center, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
Ziteng Li: Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and Personalized Medicine, Center of Collaborative and Creative Center, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
Changchun Ma: Department of Radiation Oncology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
Liangli Hong: Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and Personalized Medicine, Center of Collaborative and Creative Center, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
Zhe Li: Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and Personalized Medicine, Center of Collaborative and Creative Center, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
Xiaonan Ma: Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and Personalized Medicine, Center of Collaborative and Creative Center, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
Yien Xu: Department of Radiation Oncology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
Xiaolong Wei: Department of Pathology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
Yiqun Geng: Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and Personalized Medicine, Center of Collaborative and Creative Center, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
Weifeng Zhang: Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and Personalized Medicine, Center of Collaborative and Creative Center, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
Penghao Li: Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and Personalized Medicine, Center of Collaborative and Creative Center, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
Penghao Li: Jinxin Research Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Xinan Hospital for Maternal and Child Health Care, Chengdu, China
Jiang Gu: Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and Personalized Medicine, Center of Collaborative and Creative Center, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
Jiang Gu: Jinxin Research Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Xinan Hospital for Maternal and Child Health Care, Chengdu, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1091098
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14

Abstract

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Recent reports indicate that immune cells in solid cancers have significant predictive and therapeutic value. IgG4 is a subclass of IgG and we recently found that it exerted an inhibitory effect in tumor immunity. We aimed to assess the significance of IgG4 and T cell subtypes in tumor prognosis. We investigated the density, distribution and relationship of five immune markers CD4, CD8, Foxp3, IL-10 and IgG4 with multiple immunostaining method in 118 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) together with clinical data. The relationship among different immune cell types and with clinical data were analyzed with Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards model to identify independent risk factors among immune and clinicopathological parameters. Five-year survival rate of these patients treated with surgery reached 61%. Higher number of CD4+ plus CD8+ T cells predicted better prognosis (p=0.01) in tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) and could add to the value of TNM staging. Density of the newly identified immune inhibitor IgG4+ B lymphocytes was found positively correlated to that of CD4+ cells (p=0.02) and IL-10+ cells (p=0.0005), but number of infiltrating IgG4+ cells by itself was not an independent factor for prognosis. However, increased serum concentration of IgG4 indicated a poor prognosis of ESCC (p=0.03). 5-year survival rate of esophageal cancer after surgery has been significantly improved. Increased T cells in TLS predicted better survival, suggesting that T cells in TLS may actively participate in anti-tumor immunity. Serum IgG4 could be a useful predictor of prognosis.

Published in Frontiers in Immunology

ISSN: 1664-3224 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Immunologic diseases. Allergy
Website: http://journal.frontiersin.org/journal/immunology

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