Distinctive Features of Tumor-infiltrating γδ T Lymphocytes in Human Colorectal Cancer

Overview

Journal Oncoimmunology

Specialty Allergy & Immunology

Date 2017 Nov 11

PMID 29123962

Citations 81

Authors

S Meraviglia

E Lo Presti

M Tosolini

C La Mendola

V Orlando

M Todaro

V Catalano

G Stassi

G Cicero

S Vieni

J J Fournie

F Dieli

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

γδ T cells usually infiltrate many different types of cancer, but it is unclear whether they inhibit or promote tumor progression. Moreover, properties of tumor-infiltrating γδ T cells and those in the corresponding normal tissue remain largely unknown. Here we have studied features of γδ T cells in colorectal cancer, normal colon tissue and peripheral blood, and correlated their levels with clinicopathologic hallmarks. Flow cytometry and transcriptome analyses showed that the tumor comprised a highly variable rate of TILs (5-90%) and 4% γδ T cells on average, with the majority expressing Vδ1. Most Vδ1 and Vδ2 T cells showed a predominant effector memory phenotype and had reduced production of IFN- γ which was likely due to yet unidentified inhibitory molecules present in cancer stem cell secretome. Transcriptome analyses revealed that patients containing abundant γδ T cells had significantly longer 5-year disease free survival rate, suggesting their efficacy in controlling tumor at very early stage.

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