Clinical significance of tumor-infiltrating FOXP3+ T cells in patients with ocular adnexal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma

Cancer Sci. 2011 Nov;102(11):1972-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2011.02051.x. Epub 2011 Sep 6.

Abstract

We evaluated the association between tumor-infiltrating FOXP3+ T cells and clinical outcomes in patients with ocular adnexal lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type (OAML). Pretreatment formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from 42 patients with OAML were stained with 236A/E7 anti-FOXP3 murine monoclonal antibody as well as CD3, CD4 and CD8 antibodies. The amount of FOXP3+ T cells was numerically quantified using an image analysis program. Front-line treatments were as follows: combination chemotherapy (n = 25); radiotherapy (n = 9); doxycycline (n = 6); and wait and see (n = 2). Complete response (CR) was observed in 20 (50%) of 40 evaluable patients. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 50 months. A high number of FOXP3+ T cells (n = 21, ≥ 180/0.58 mm(2)) showed a higher CR rate (33%vs 71%, P = 0.013) and tendency towards prolonged PFS (48 vs 67 months, P = 0.110). In the combination chemotherapy group, a high number of FOXP3+ T cells was significantly associated with a higher CR rate (29%vs 82%, P = 0.008) and prolonged PFS (17 vs 79 months, P = 0.003). A high number of tumor-infiltrating FOXP3+ T cells correlates with a favorable clinical outcome in OAML patients.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antigens, CD / analysis
  • Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / analysis
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Caspases / genetics
  • Conjunctival Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Conjunctival Neoplasms / immunology
  • Conjunctival Neoplasms / pathology
  • Conjunctival Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Doxycycline / therapeutic use
  • Eye Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Eye Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Eye Neoplasms / pathology
  • Eye Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Eyelid Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Eyelid Neoplasms / immunology
  • Eyelid Neoplasms / pathology
  • Eyelid Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Female
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / analysis*
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases / drug therapy
  • Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases / immunology
  • Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases / pathology
  • Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases / radiotherapy
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / chemistry
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / immunology*
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / drug therapy
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / immunology*
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / pathology
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / radiotherapy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma Translocation 1 Protein
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Orbital Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Orbital Neoplasms / immunology
  • Orbital Neoplasms / pathology
  • Orbital Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Prognosis
  • Remission Induction
  • Republic of Korea / epidemiology
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Watchful Waiting

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte
  • FOXP3 protein, human
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Caspases
  • MALT1 protein, human
  • Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma Translocation 1 Protein
  • Doxycycline