CD103 and Intratumoral Immune Response in Breast Cancer

• Published in: Clinical cancer research Vol. 22; no. 24; pp. 6290 - 6297
• Main Authors: Wang, Zhi-Qiang, Milne, Katy, Derocher, Heather, Webb, John R, Nelson, Brad H, Watson, Peter H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 15.12.2016
• Subjects: Adult; Antigens, CD - metabolism; Breast Neoplasms - immunology; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - pathology; Cohort Studies; Disease-Free Survival; Female; Humans; Integrin alpha Chains - metabolism; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating - immunology; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating - metabolism; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating - pathology; Prognosis
• ISSN: 1078-0432; 1557-3265
• DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-16-0732

CD103 is expressed in several immune cell types but in the context of the intratumoral immune response may be most important as a marker of antigen-activated CD8 T cells. We have examined the prognostic significance of CD103 TILs in breast cancer by IHC in a cohort of 424 breast cancer patients. CD103 TILs were present in all subtypes but were more abundant in ER-negative tumors where CD103 TILs were preferentially localized to the intraepithelial compartment. CD103 was associated with tumor size, tumor grade, and ER/PR status (P < 0.05). CD103 TIL density and the epithelial to stromal ratio was highest in the basal-like tumors. Intraepithelial CD103 but not intrastromal CD103 was associated with better relapse-free and overall survival in basal-like subtype tumors [HR = 0.28; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.17-0.72; P = 0.0047 and HR = 0.25; 95% CI, 0.17-0.66; P = 0.0017, respectively). CD8 status showed similar but less significant associations, but the combination of dual CD103 CD8 TIL status was the most strongly prognostic combination for relapse-free and overall survival (HR = 0.10; 95% CI, 0.07-0.62; P = 0.006 and HR = 0.09; 95% CI, 0.07-0.57; P = 0.003, respectively). CD103 TILs are indicative of a good prognosis specifically within the basal-like subtype of breast cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 22(24); 6290-7. ©2016 AACR.