CD1a-positive infiltrating-dendritic cell density and 5-year survival from human breast cancer

• Published in: British journal of cancer Vol. 89; no. 3; pp. 533 - 538
• Main Authors: Coventry, B J, Morton, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Nature Publishing Group 04.08.2003
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antigens, CD1 - analysis; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Cancer research; Clinical outcomes; Dendritic cells; Dendritic Cells - immunology; Dendritic Cells - physiology; Female; Humans; Lymphatic system; Medical prognosis; Medical research; Middle Aged; Molecular and Cellular Pathology; Oncology; Predictive Value of Tests; Prognosis; Surgery; Survival Analysis; Australia; South Australia Australia
• ISSN: 0007-0920; 1532-1827
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6601114

Infiltrating CD1a(+) dendritic cells (DCs) have been associated with increased survival in a number of human cancers. This study investigated DC infiltration within breast cancers and the association with survival. Classical established prognostic factors, of tumour size, lymph node status, histological grade, lympho-vascular invasion, the KI-67 (MIB-1) fraction and the Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI) were also compared. A total of 48 breast cancer patients were followed from the time of surgery and CD1a density analysis for 5 years or until death. Our data set validated previous studies, which show a relationship between survival and the NPI (P<0.001), tumour size (P<0.01) and lymph node status (P<0.05). Although more patients were alive at the 5-year time point in the group with higher CD1a DC density than the lower CD1a DC group, this failed to reach statistical significance at the P=0.05 level. Analysis at 10 years postsurgery is required to investigate the association further.