Distribution of CD4+Foxp3+,CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Introduction. It is believed that patient's immune cells affect tumor development. Immunosuppressive lymphocytes represented by CD4+Foxp3+T cells participate in immunosurveillance in lung cancer and in the immunological tolerance. Study aim was to investigate tumor infiltrating T cells (CD4+Foxp3+, CD4+ and CD8+) in NSCLC. Methods: We studied 48 NSCLC patients (stages I-III) with median age 65.5 years (ranges 46-77) and 10 control group individuals (patients without NSCLC) with median age 20 years (ranges 20-77). Immunohistochemical analysis of surgical lung biopsy samples was performed. Quantitative evaluation of CD4+Foxp3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in tumor islets and stroma was analyzed in 10 most representative high-power fields (HPFs x 400 magnification) per tissue section. Results. Greater amount of CD4+Foxp3+ T cells was found in NSCLC tumor tissue comparing with control group patients (50[11-92] vs. 9[7-10], P<0.001). More CD4+Foxp3+ T cells were presented in NSCLC tumor stroma comparing with NSCLC islets (39[11-72] vs. 10[0-32], P<0.001). We found higher amount of CD4+ T cells in NSCLC tumor stroma compared to NSCLC patients tumor islets (139[40-326]vs.10.5[2-55], P<0.001). Close results were found analyzing CD8+ T cells (137.5[47-230] vs. 23.5[6-135], P<0.001). More CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was observed in NSCLC tumor tissue comparing with control group patients (153[53-348] vs. 26.5 [18-37] P<0.001 and 166.5[57-307] vs. 60[39-115], P<0.001). Interestingly, smoking and COPD influenced CD4+ and CD8+ T cells distribution in tumor but didn't affect CD4+Foxp3+ T cells distribution. Conclusions. Increased amount of CD4+Foxp3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in non-small cell lung cancer tumor tissue was observed.