CD103 and Intratumoral Immune Response in Breast Cancer

Clin Cancer Res. 2016 Dec 15;22(24):6290-6297. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-16-0732. Epub 2016 Jun 7.

Abstract

Purpose: 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.

Methods: We have examined the prognostic significance of CD103 TILs in breast cancer by IHC in a cohort of 424 breast cancer patients.

Results: 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).

Conclusions: 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.

MeSH terms

  • 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

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Integrin alpha Chains
  • alpha E integrins