Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in early breast cancer. (February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pruneri, Giancarlo; Vingiani, Andrea; Denkert, Carsten
• Is Part Of: Breast. Volume 37(2018)
• Page Start: 207
• Page End: 214
• Publication Date: 2018-02
• Subjects: Breast cancer -- Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes -- Phenotype -- Gene expression -- Prognosis; Breast -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Breast -- Tumors -- Periodicals; Breast -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 616
• DOI: 10.1016/j.breast.2017.03.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-9776

Abstract

Abstract: Immunoediting represents a complex and dynamic process involving cancer and immune system cells, composed by three intertwined phases: elimination, equilibrium and escape. A large number of immune cell subtypes are involved, each playing a peculiar role in interacting with cancer cells: cytotoxic CD8 + T cells play a main role in cancer killing by inducing tumor cell death, while FOXP3+ T-regulatory cells represent an immune-inhibitory cell subtype. The evaluation of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in H&E routine samples has been shown to represent a reliable surrogate of the immune anti-tumor activity and a robust independent prognostic biomarker in breast cancer (BC) patients, especially in the Tripe Negative and HER2+ subtypes. The present review addresses the mechanisms of breast cancer immunoediting, its cell complexity and prognostic/predictive relevance, providing evidence that TILs represent one the most promising biomarkers for BC patients. Highlights: TILs in H&E stained slides are a reliable surrogate of anti-tumor immunity. The magnitude and of TIL is variable within and between breast cancer subtypes. TILs and TILs subsets are promising prognostic biomarkers in breast cancer.