The Density of Tumor-infiltrating Lymphocytes and Prognosis in Resectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: a Two-phase Study

Overview

Journal Aging (Albany NY)

Specialty Geriatrics

Date 2021 Mar 21

PMID 33744864

Citations 10

Authors

Fengwei Gao

Kunlin Xie

Qiwen Xiang

Yan Qin

Panyu Chen

Haifeng Wan

Yang Deng

Jiwei Huang

Hong Wu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Aim: Previous studies have focused on the subpopulations of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in tumors. This study focuses only on the concentration of TILs in the tumor irrespective of type and elucidates its prognostic value.

Methods: We used 315 HCC patients as the discovery phase and another 343 HCC patients as the validation phase. By following the standardized guideline, density of TILs were categorized into low (TILs < 10%), intermediate (10% ≦ TILs < 50%), and high (TILs ≧ 50%) levels. Associations of TILs with prognostic, immune-related, and genetic variables were examined.

Results: We observed a dose-response relation of TILs with overall survival (intermediate: HR, 0.58; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.36-0.93; high: HR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.15-0.93) and disease-free survival (intermediate: HR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.22-0.58; high: HR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.09-0.58). The prognostic value of TILs was validated in the TCGA set. Mutation burden or the number of neoantigens were not associated with TILs intensity. However, hepatitis B or C virus infection patients had higher TILs intensity in the para-tumor tissue.

Conclusions: The TILs intensity was associated with patients' survival. If confirmed, this would suggest that clinical routine assessment of TILs could provide prognostic information in HCC.

Citing Articles

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Immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Childs A, Aidoo-Micah G, Maini M, Meyer T JHEP Rep. 2024; 6(10):101130.

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Pathologic assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma in the era of immunotherapy: a narrative review.

Wang H, Qian Y, Dong H, Cong W Hepatobiliary Surg Nutr. 2024; 13(3):472-493.

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PVALB Was Identified as an Independent Prognostic Factor for HCC Closely Related to Immunity, and Its Absence Accelerates Tumor Progression by Regulating NK Cell Infiltration.

Gong Y, Zhou M, Zhu Y, Pan J, Zhou X, Jiang Y J Hepatocell Carcinoma. 2024; 11:813-838.

PMID: 38737383 PMC: 11088852. DOI: 10.2147/JHC.S450479.

Treatment Options for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Immunotherapy: Present and Future.

Wei H, Dong C, Li X J Clin Transl Hepatol. 2024; 12(4):389-405.

PMID: 38638377 PMC: 11022065. DOI: 10.14218/JCTH.2023.00462.

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