Stromal TILs and PDL1 expression are associated with aggressive forms of breast cancer

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Stromal TILs and PDL1 expression are associated with aggressive forms of breast cancer

Thursday, 20.04.2017

Recently, a paper developed by i3S/Ipatimup on the role of stromal tumor-infiltrating linfocytes (TILs) and PDL1 expression in breast carcinomas was published in the Journal of Clinical Pathology.
Using two independent series of breast carcinomas (one of them including in situ carcinomas), the authors were able to relate TILs and PDL1 expression to high histological grade (grade 3) and triple-negative molecular subtype breast carcinomas, characteristics associated with poor prognosis. They further verified the presence of PDL1 expression in in situ carcinoma cells for the first time and a close relationship with stem cell markers. Finally, they observed that certain breast carcinomas associated with PDL1 expression had a worse prognosis, and may eventually be the target of therapies directed against this molecule.

Authors and Affiliations:
António Polónia 1,2,3,4, Regina Pinto 1,2,3, Jorge F. Cameselle-Teijeiro 5, Fernando C. Schmitt 1,2,3,4,6, Joana Paredes 1,2,4
1 Epithelial Interactions in Cancer (EPIC), i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal;

2 Ipatimup, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal;

3 Department of Pathology, Ipatimup Diagnostics, Ipatimup, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal;

4 FMUP, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal;

5 Complexo Hospitalar Universitario de Vigo (CHUVI), Vigo, Spain;

6 Laboratoire National de Santé, Dudelange,Luxembourg

Abstract:
AIM: The present work aims to evaluate the presence of stromal tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PDL1) expression in breast carcinomas and their correlation with available clinicopathological features.
METHODS: Two independent series of invasive breast cancer (IBC), one including ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) pair-matched cases, were selected, and quantification of TILs was accomplished in each case. Immunohistochemistry was also performed to evaluate the expression of PDL1.
RESULTS: In both cohorts evaluated, increased stromal TILs and PDL1 expression were present in about 10% of IBCs, being significantly associated with each other and both with grade 3 and triple-negative subtype. We observed a similar distribution of stromal TILs and PDL1 expression between DCIS and IBC. Finally, we observed that increased stromal TILs and PDL1 expression were significantly associated with cancer stem cell (CSC) markers, basal cell markers and vimentin expression. Interestingly, in IBC cases with vimentin expression, increased stromal TILs, as well as decreased PDL1 expression, disclosed a better clinical outcome, independently of the main classical BC prognostic factors.
CONCLUSIONS: We have confirmed the association of stromal TILs and PDL1 expression with aggressive forms of BC and that both are already found in in situ stages. We also showed that stromal TILs and PDL1 expression are associated with clinical outcome in cases enriched for a mesenchymal immunophenotype. We describe for the first time a close relationship between CSC markers and PDL1 expression.

Journal: Journal of Clinical Pathology

Linkhttp://jcp.bmj.com/content/early/2017/04/03/jclinpath-2016-203990.long