Expression of B7-H3, a Potential Factor of Tumor Immune Evasion in Combination with the Number of Regulatory T Cells, Affects Against Recurrence-free Survival in Breast Cancer Patients

Overview

Journal Ann Surg Oncol

Publisher Springer

Specialty Oncology

Date 2014 Feb 25

PMID 24562936

Citations 42

Authors

N Maeda

K Yoshimura

S Yamamoto

A Kuramasu

M Inoue

N Suzuki

Y Watanabe

Y Maeda

R Kamei

R Tsunedomi

Y Shindo

M Inui

K Tamada

S Yoshino

S Hazama

M Oka

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: In the tumor microenvironment, factors inhibiting the targeting of cancer cells by activated T cells have recently been noted. B7-H3 belongs to the B7 superfamily of immune regulatory ligands and plays an important role in the adaptive immune response of co-inhibitory/stimulatory factors in regulating T cells. However, the degree to which B7-H3 directly affects tumor immune evasion mechanisms remains unclear, particularly in patients with breast cancer. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are known as a key player in the inhibition of immune mechanisms. The present study demonstrated that expression of B7-H3 on tumor cells and the number of Tregs in the tumor microenvironment independently affected prognosis in breast cancer patients.

Methods: We immunohistochemically investigated the presence of B7-H3 and forkhead box P3 (Foxp3)-positive Tregs in pathological specimens from 90 patients with breast cancer.

Results: Positive B7-H3 expression was associated with shorter recurrence-free survival (RFS) (p = 0.014). A higher percentage of Foxp3-positive cells also correlated with shorter RFS (p = 0.039). Multivariate analysis showed B7-H3 as an independent factor on RFS. Foxp3 expression in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) correlated significantly with larger tumor size (>2 cm), expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and higher nuclear grade (p = 0.003, p < 0.001, p = 0.001, respectively). No correlation was identified between expression of B7-H3 and the percentage of Foxp3-positive TILs.

Conclusions: B7-H3 and Foxp3 can be regarded as markers of poor prognosis in breast cancer. These expressions were not correlated, suggesting that B7-H3 expression plays an independent role in tumor immune evasion, regardless of Tregs.

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