scholarly journals Unraveling Heterogeneity of Tumor Cells and Microenvironment and Its Clinical Implications for Triple Negative Breast Cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ke Jiang ◽  
Mengting Dong ◽  
Chunyang Li ◽  
Jiayu Sheng
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cell Cycle ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Tumor Heterogeneity ◽  
Triple Negative ◽  
Enrichment Analysis ◽  
Marker Genes ◽  
Normal Tissues

Objective: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer, characterized by extensive intratumoral heterogeneity. We aimed to systematically characterize the tumor heterogeneity of TNBC.Methods: Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of TNBC cells were obtained from the GSE118389 and GSE75688 datasets. After integration of the two datasets, cell clustering analysis was performed using the Seurat package. According to the marker genes of cell cycle, cell cycle of each cell cluster was determined. Then, function enrichment analysis of marker genes in each cell cluster was performed, followed by ligand–receptor signaling network analysis. CIBERSORT was used to estimate the proportion of 22 immune cells in each sample based on RNA-seq data of 58 normal adjacent tissues and 101 TNBC tissues. After that, prognostic value of immune cells was assessed.Results: In the integrated datasets, five cells types including B cells, myeloid cells, stromal cells, T cells, and tumor cells were clustered. Functional enrichment analysis revealed the functional heterogeneity of genes in each cell. Intercellular communication networks were conducted based on ligand–receptor pairs. The heterogeneity in the fractions of 22 immune cells was found in TNBC tissues. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in the fractions of these immune cells between adjacent normal tissues and TNBC tissues. Among them, M2 macrophages and neutrophils were significantly associated with clinical outcomes of TNBC. Moreover, the fractions of T cells CD4 memory resting, monocytes, neutrophils, M1 macrophages, and T cells CD4 memory activated were significantly correlated with clinical characteristics of TNBC. As shown in PCA results, these immune cells could significantly distinguish TNBC tissues into adjacent normal tissues.Conclusion: Our findings characterized the tumor heterogeneity of TNBC, which deepened the understanding of the complex interactions between tumor cells and their microenvironment, especially immune cells.

Systematic Analyses of The Role of Prognostic And Immunological of EIF3A, A Reader Protein, In Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Zhang ◽  
Xiaoliang Hua ◽  
Haoqiang Shi ◽  
Li Zhang ◽  
HaiBing Xiao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renal Cell Carcinoma ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Renal Cell ◽  
Clear Cell ◽  
Multivariate Analyses ◽  
Enrichment Analysis ◽  
Marker Genes ◽  
Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Abstract Background: Eukaryotic initiation factor 3a, EIF3A, as a “reader” protein for RNA methylation, has been found to be related to promote tumorigenesis in different variety of cancers. The impaction of EIF3A in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) has yet to be expounded. This study aimed to identify the prognostic value of EIF3A in ccRCC and investigate the relationship between expression and immune infiltration.Methods: We collected 29 m6a related mRNA data and clinicopathological parameters from Cancer Genmoe Atlas (TCGA) database. Logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the correlation between EIF3A expression and clinical characteristics. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) were applied to examine EIF3A levels in normal and ccRCC tissues. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to recognize forcefully independent factor in associated with overall survival (OS) and diseases free survival (DFS). Nomogram was aim at predicting the 1-, 3-and 5-year survival probabilities. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was carried out to the potential function and related signaling pathways of EIF3A expression. To investigate EIF3A of co-expressed genes, we used LinkedOmics and its result was undertaken enrichment analysis. Simultaneously, to employ LinkedOmics and STRING dataset drew a conclusion that EIF3A co-expressed genes and visualized via Cytoscape. Finally, we evaluated that EIF3A expression correlated between with infiltration of immune cells and the expression of marker genes in ccRCC by Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA).Result: EIF3A expression was significantly different between ccRCC tissues and normal tissues. EIF3A expression was connected with poor prognostic clinicopathological factors, and K–M analyses revealed that low EIF3A expression was correlated with poor prognosis. The result of univariate and multivariate analyses proved that EIF3A was a prognostic factor in ccRCC patients. GSEA results indicated that high expression was enriched in renal cell carcinoma pathway and so on. EIF3A expression was significantly positively correlated with B cells, CD8+T cells, CD4+T cells, neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells. Furthermore, EIF3A expression was associated with most of marker genes of immune cells.Conclusions: EIF3A could serve as potential biomarkers for prognostic and diagnostic stratification factor for ccRCC and is related with immune cells infiltrates.

The spatial localization of CD163+ tumor-associated macrophages predicts prognosis and response to therapy in inflammatory breast cancer.

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 3086-3086
Author(s):  
Christophe Van Berckelaer ◽  
Charlotte Rypens ◽  
Steven Van Laere ◽  
Koen Marien ◽  
Pieter-Jan Van Dam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Deep Learning ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Inflammatory Breast Cancer ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Multivariate Model ◽  
Response To Therapy ◽  
Tumor Associated Macrophages ◽  
Cd8 Cells

3086 Background: The mechanisms contributing to the aggressive biology of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) are under investigation. A specific immune response seems to be an important driver, but the functional role of infiltrating immune cells in IBC remains unclear. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are associated with worse outcome, while CD8+ cytotoxic T cells demonstrate anti-tumor properties in breast cancer. In this study, we assessed spatial associations between CD163+ TAMs, CD8+ cells and cancer cells in IBC, using deep-learning and ecological statistics. Methods: We collected clinicopathological variables, evaluated PDL1-positivity (SP142, Ventana) and scored TILs according to the TIL working group guidelines on H&E slides for 144 IBC patients. Immunostainings for CD8 and CD163 (Hematoxylin-DAB) were done according to validated protocols. All slides were digitized, underwent virtual multiplexing and were evaluated in Visiopharm to quantify the number of DAB+ immune cells. Each immune cell was located using XY coordinates and spatial interactions were examined using a Morisita Horn Index (MHI). Tumor cell coordinates were collected using a deep-learning algorithm applied to the CD8-stained slide. This algorithm was trained in 18 images with more than 150.000 iterations (Deeplabv3+). Results: Complete pathological response (pCR) after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy was achieved by 30.6% (n= 30/98) of the patients with initially localized disease. Besides PDL1-postivity ( P= .03), infiltration with CD8+ T cells ( P= .02) and TAMs ( P= .01) also predicted pCR. However, a likelihood ratio test showed no difference between a model using CD8+ cells, TAMs or TILs. Interestingly, the colocalization of CD163+ and CD8+ cells (MHI >0.83) was associated with pCR (P= .01) and remained significant in a multivariate model (OR: 3.18; 95% CI: 1.04 – 10.6; P= .05) including TIL score, PDL1-positivity and hormone receptor (HR) status. Furthermore, a shorter disease-free survival (DFS) was associated with HR- status, no pCR and the colocalization of TAMs near tumor cells (HR: 3.3; 95% CI: 1.6 – 7.1; P= .002) in a multivariate model. The density of TAMs was not associated with outcome. Conclusions: The impact of TAMs on clinical outcome appears to depend on the spatial arrangement. The number of TAMs solely was not associated with outcome, but patients with more TAMs in proximity of the tumor cells had a worse DFS. Surprisingly, the clustering of TAMs near CD8+ cells was associated with pCR independent of the number of TAMs or TILs.

scholarly journals Epigenetic Quantification of Circulating Immune Cells in Peripheral Blood of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer patients

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehdi Manoochehri ◽  
Thomas Hielscher ◽  
Nasim Borhani ◽  
Clarissa Gerhäuser ◽  
Olivia Fletcher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Triple Negative Breast Cancer ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Triple Negative ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Cell Type ◽  
Cell Ratio ◽  
Immune Cell Type

Abstract Background: A shift in the proportions of blood immune cells is a hallmark of cancer development. Here, we investigated whether methylation-derived immune cell type ratios and methylation-derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (mdNLRs) are associated with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Methods: Leukocyte subtype-specific un/methylated CpG sites were selected and methylation levels at these sites used as proxies for immune cell type proportions and mdNLR estimation in 231 TNBC cases and 231 age-matched controls. Data were validated using the Houseman deconvolution method. Additionally, the natural killer (NK) cell ratio was measured in a prospective sample set of 146 TNBC cases and 146 age-matched controls. Results: The mdNLRs were higher in TNBC cases compared with controls and associated with TNBC (odds ratio (OR) range (2.66-4.29), all Padj.<1e-04). A higher neutrophil ratio and lower ratios of NK cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, monocytes, and B cells were associated with TNBC. The strongest association was observed with decreased NK cell ratio (OR range (1.28-1.42), all Padj.<1e-04). The NK cell ratio was also significantly lower in pre-diagnostic samples of TNBC cases compared with controls (P=0.019).Conclusion: This immunomethylomic study shows that a shift in the ratios/proportions of leukocyte subtypes is associated with TNBC, with decreased NK cell showing the strongest association. These findings improve our knowledge of the role of the immune system in TNBC and point to the possibility of using NK cell level as a non-invasive molecular marker for TNBC risk assessment, early detection, and prevention.

scholarly journals Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Catabolizing Enzymes Predict Better Prognosis in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Patients and Correlates With Tumor-Infiltrating Immune Cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajeev Nema ◽  
Ashok Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Cd8 T Cells ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Poor Prognosis ◽  
Triple Negative ◽  
Strong Positive Correlation ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Sphingosine 1 Phosphate ◽  
S1p Receptor

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with a poor prognosis. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a potent sphingolipid metabolite, has been implicated in many processes that are important for breast cancer (BC). S1P signaling regulates tumorigenesis, and response to chemotherapy and immunotherapy by affecting the trafficking, differentiation or effector function of tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs).Objective: In this study, using bioinformatics tools and publicly available databases, we have analyzed the prognostic value of S1P metabolizing genes and their correlation with TIICs in BC patients.Methods: The expression of S1P metabolizing genes and receptors was evaluated by the UALCAN cancer database. The correlation between mRNA expression of S1P metabolizing genes and receptors and survival outcome of breast cancer patients was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier plotter database. The association between the gene expression and infiltration of immune cells in the tumors was analyzed by “Tumor-Infiltrating Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER). In silico protein expression analysis was done using the Human Protein Atlas” database.Results: TNBC patients with lower expression of S1P phosphatase 1 (SGPP1) or lipid phosphate phosphatase 3 (PLPP3) have much shorter relapse-free survival than the patients with a higher expression of these genes. SGPP1 and PLPP3 expression show a strong positive correlation with tumor-infiltrating dendritic cells (DCs), CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, neutrophils, and macrophages in the TNBC subtypes. In addition, S1P receptor 4 (S1PR4), an S1P receptor exhibit a strong positive correlation with DCs, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and neutrophils in TNBC. We, therefore, conclude that low expression of SGPP1 and PLPP3 may hinder the recruitment of immune cells to the tumor environment, resulting in the blockage of cancer cell clearance and a subsequent poor prognosis.

scholarly journals The pleiotropic effects of the MNK1/2-eIF4E axis support immune suppression and metastasis in a model of postpartum breast cancer

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qianyu Guo ◽  
Margarita Bartish ◽  
Christophe Goncalves ◽  
Fan Huang ◽  
Sai Sakktee Krisna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Lung Metastasis ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Metastatic Breast ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Mass Cytometry ◽  
Postpartum Breast Cancer

AbstractPurposeBreast cancer diagnosed within 10 years following childbirth is defined as postpartum breast cancer (PPBC) and is highly metastatic. Interactions between immune cells and other stromal cells within the involuting mammary gland are fundamental in facilitating an aggressive tumor phenotype. The MNK1/2-eIF4E axis promotes the translation of pro-metastatic mRNAs in tumor cells, but its role in modulating the function of non-tumor cells in the PPBC microenvironment, and in particular its activity in human PPBC, has not been explored.Experimental designWe used a combination of in vivo PPBC models and in vitro assays to study the effects of phospho-eIF4E deficiency on the pro-tumor function of select cells of the TME. Furthermore, we employed Imaging Mass Cytometry on PPBC and non-PPBC patient samples, to chart the expression of the MNK1/2-eIF4E axis components in the TME.ResultsHere, we show that phospho-eIF4E deficient (eIF4ES209A) PPBC mice are protected against lung metastasis and reveal differences in the lung immune microenvironment of the WT and eIF4ES209A mice. Moreover, we show that the expression of fibroblast-derived IL-33, an alarmin known to induce invasion, was repressed upon MNK1/2-eIF4E axis inhibition. Imaging Mass Cytometry results indicated that human PPBC contain phospho-eIF4E high-expressing tumor cells and CD8+ T cells displaying an activated dysfunctional phenotype. Finally, we block lung metastasis in PPBC mice, using combined MNK1/2 inhibition and anti-PD-1 therapy.ConclusionsThese findings implicate the involvement of the MNK1/2-eIF4E axis during PPBC metastasis and suggest a promising immunomodulatory route to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy by blocking phospho-eIF4E.Translational relevancePostpartum breast cancer (PPBC) is highly aggressive. It is hypothesized that involution-induced changes in the postpartum breast microenvironment, which include an influx of inflammatory immune cells and activation of resident fibroblasts, facilitate the invasiveness of an existing neoplasm. We used imaging mass cytometry to do an in-depth profiling of the MNK1-eIF4E axis in the TME of a unique cohort of PPBC and non-PPBC patients. We observed patterns of phospho-eIF4E in non-tumor cells that were specific to the TME of PPBC. We also noted that the CD8+ T cells present in PPBC express an activated dysfunctional phenotype characterized by the co-expression of HLA-DR and PD-1. This study represents a first look at the expression of the MNK1-eIF4E axis in the stromal cells of metastatic breast cancer and has therapeutic implications as we show, in an animal model of PPBC, that MNK1/2 inhibition can be used to sensitize tumors to anti-PD1 immunotherapy.

scholarly journals Epigenetic quantification of circulating immune cells in peripheral blood of triple-negative breast cancer patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehdi Manoochehri ◽  
Thomas Hielscher ◽  
Nasim Borhani ◽  
Clarissa Gerhäuser ◽  
Olivia Fletcher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Triple Negative Breast Cancer ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Triple Negative ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Cell Type ◽  
Cell Ratio ◽  
Immune Cell Type

Abstract Background A shift in the proportions of blood immune cells is a hallmark of cancer development. Here, we investigated whether methylation-derived immune cell type ratios and methylation-derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (mdNLRs) are associated with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Methods Leukocyte subtype-specific unmethylated/methylated CpG sites were selected, and methylation levels at these sites were used as proxies for immune cell type proportions and mdNLR estimation in 231 TNBC cases and 231 age-matched controls. Data were validated using the Houseman deconvolution method. Additionally, the natural killer (NK) cell ratio was measured in a prospective sample set of 146 TNBC cases and 146 age-matched controls. Results The mdNLRs were higher in TNBC cases compared with controls and associated with TNBC (odds ratio (OR) range (2.66–4.29), all Padj. < 1e−04). A higher neutrophil ratio and lower ratios of NK cells, CD4 + T cells, CD8 + T cells, monocytes, and B cells were associated with TNBC. The strongest association was observed with decreased NK cell ratio (OR range (1.28–1.42), all Padj. < 1e−04). The NK cell ratio was also significantly lower in pre-diagnostic samples of TNBC cases compared with controls (P = 0.019). Conclusion This immunomethylomic study shows that a shift in the ratios/proportions of leukocyte subtypes is associated with TNBC, with decreased NK cell showing the strongest association. These findings improve our knowledge of the role of the immune system in TNBC and point to the possibility of using NK cell level as a non-invasive molecular marker for TNBC risk assessment, early detection, and prevention.

scholarly journals Quantitative Assessment of the Immune Microenvironment in African American Triple Negative Breast Cancer: A Case Control Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vesal Yaghoobi ◽  
Myrto Moutafi ◽  
Thazin Nwe Aung ◽  
Vasiliki Pelekanou ◽  
Sanam Yaghoubi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
T Cells ◽  
African American ◽  
Triple Negative Breast Cancer ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Triple Negative ◽  
Tumor Resection ◽  
Lymphocytic Infiltration ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Activated T Cells

Abstract PURPOSETriple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is more common in African American (AA) than Non-AA (NAA) population. We hypothesize that Tumor Microenvironment (TME) contributes to this disparity. Here we use multiplex quantitative immunofluorescence (QIF) to characterize the expression of immunologic biomarkers in the TME in both populations.PATIENTS AND METHODSTNBC tumor resection specimen tissues from a 100-patient case: control cohort including 49 AA and 51 NAA were collected. TME markers including CD45, CD14, CD68, CD206, CD4, CD8, CD20, CD3, Ki67, GzB, Thy1, FAP, aSMA, CD34, Col4, VWF and PD-L1 we quantitatively assessed in every field of view. Mean expression levels were compared between cases and controlsRESULTSAlthough no significant differences were detected in individual lymphoid and myeloid markers, we found that infiltration with CD45+ immune cells (p=0.0102) was higher in TNBC in AA population. AA TNBC tumors also had significantly higher level of lymphocytic infiltration defined as CD45+CD14- cells (p=0.0081). CD3+T-cells in AA tumors expressed significantly higher levels of Ki67 (0.0066) compared to NAAs, indicating that a higher percentage of AA tumors contained activated T-cells. All other biomarkers showed no significant differences between the AA and NAA group.CONCLUSIONSWhile the TME in TNBC is rich in immune cells in both racial groups, there is a numerical increase in lymphoid infiltration in AA compared to NAA TNBC. Significantly higher activated T cells seen in AA patients raises the possibility that there may be a subset of AA patients with improved response to immunotherapy.

scholarly journals Fractal dimension, occupancy and hotspot analyses of B cell spatial distribution predict clinical outcome in breast cancer

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana C. Wortman ◽  
Ting-Fang He ◽  
Shawn Solomon ◽  
Robert Z. Zhang ◽  
Anthony Rosario ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
B Cells ◽  
Clinical Outcome ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Triple Negative ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Statistical Techniques ◽  
Killer T Cells

AbstractWhile the density of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) is now well known to correlate with clinical outcome, the clinical significance of spatial distribution of TILs is not well characterized. We have developed novel statistical techniques (including fractal dimension differences, a hotspot analysis, a box counting method that we call ‘occupancy’ and a way to normalize cell density that we call ‘thinning’) to analyze the spatial distribution (at different length scales) of various types of TILs in triple negative breast tumors. Consistent with prior reports, the density of CD20+ B cells within tumors is not correlated with clinical outcome. However, we found that their spatial distribution differs significantly between good clinical outcome (no recurrence within at least 5 years of diagnosis) and poor clinical outcome (recurrence with 3 years of diagnosis). Furthermore, CD20+ B cells are more spatially dispersed in good outcome tumors and are more likely to infiltrate into cancer cell islands. Lastly, we found significant correlation between the spatial distributions of CD20+ B cells and CD8+ (cytotoxic) T cells (as well as CD3+ T cells), regardless of outcome. These results highlight the significance of the spatial distribution of TILs, especially B cells, within tumors.Significance StatementImmune cells can fight cancer. For example, a patient has a good prognosis when a high density of killer T cells, a type of immune cell that can kill cancer cells, infiltrates into a tumor. However, there is no clear association between prognosis and the density of B cells, another type of immune cell, in a tumor. We developed several statistical techniques to go beyond cell density and look at the spatial distribution, i.e., the pattern or arrangement of immune cells, in tumors that have been removed from patients with triple negative breast cancer. We find that B cells and killer T cells tend to be more spread out in the tumors of patients whose cancer did not recur.

scholarly journals Epigenetic Quantification of Circulating Immune Cells in Peripheral Blood of Triple-negative Breast Cancer Patients

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehdi Manoochehri ◽  
Thomas Hielscher ◽  
Nasim Borhani ◽  
Clarissa Gerhäuser ◽  
Olivia Fletcher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Triple Negative Breast Cancer ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Triple Negative ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Cell Type ◽  
Cell Ratio ◽  
Immune Cell Type

Abstract Background: A shift in the proportions of blood immune cells is a hallmark of cancer development. Here, we investigated whether methylation-derived immune cell type ratios and methylation-derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (mdNLRs) are associated with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Methods: Leukocyte subtype-specific un/methylated CpG sites were selected and methylation levels at these sites used as proxies for immune cell type proportions and mdNLR estimation in 231 TNBC cases and 231 age-matched controls. Data were validated using the Houseman deconvolution method. Additionally, the natural killer (NK) cell ratio was measured in a prospective sample set of 146 TNBC cases and 146 age-matched controls. Results: The mdNLRs were higher in TNBC cases compared with controls and associated with TNBC (odds ratio (OR) range (2.66-4.29), all Padj.<1e-04). A higher neutrophil ratio and lower ratios of NK cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, monocytes, and B cells were associated with TNBC. The strongest association was observed with decreased NK cell ratio (OR range (1.28-1.42), all Padj.<1e-04). The NK cell ratio was also significantly lower in pre-diagnostic samples of TNBC cases compared with controls (P=0.019).Conclusion: This immunomethylomic study shows that a shift in the ratios/proportions of leukocyte subtypes is associated with TNBC, with decreased NK cell showing the strongest association. These findings improve our knowledge of the role of the immune system in TNBC and point to the possibility of using NK cell level as a non-invasive molecular marker for TNBC risk assessment, early detection, and prevention.

CCL5 expression and tumor infiltrating immune cells in triple negative breast cancer.

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 11553-11553
Author(s):  
Jhajaira Araujo ◽  
Andrea C. Gomez ◽  
Roberto Salgado ◽  
Justin M. Balko ◽  
Alfredo Aguilar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Triple Negative Breast Cancer ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Triple Negative ◽  
Memory T Cells ◽  
Residual Disease ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Cd8 Cells

11553 Background: CCL5 is a chemo-attractant of regulatory T cells, promoting tumor immune avoidance and related to a poor outcome in several malignancies; however, in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), it is related to a better outcome. Our aim was to evaluate the correlation between CCL5 and tumor infiltrating immune cells and their prognosis value. Methods: We evaluated 72 TNBC patients with residual disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with matched data of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) count and CCL5 expression (profiled with NanoString). CCL5 expression levels were log2 transformed and median centered. Correlation between TILs (log2 transformed) and CCL5 was evaluated with the Spearman’s rank test. Cox PH model was used to investigate the effect of CCL5 (median as cutoff) and TILs ( < 20% and ≥20%) in distant-recurrence free survival. We used the CIBERSORT platform to evaluate the immune cells composition according to the expression of CCL5 (higher vs. lower or equal than median) in 3 independent TNBC datasets (GSE25066, GSE58812 and GSE76124). Results: There was a significant correlation between TILs and residual tumor size (P = 0.017) and CCL5 (ρ = 0.347, P = 0.003). In univariate analysis, TILs (HR = 0.276, 95%IC: 0.128-0.593; P = 0.001) and CCL5 (HR = 0.401; 95%CI: 0.206-0.781; P = 0.007) were both associated with outcome. In a multivariate analysis with CCL5 expression and TILs count, TILs was the only significant marker with a P = 0.008 (HR = 0.336; 95%CI: 0.150-0.753), in contrast to CCL5 (HR = 0.573; 95%CI: 0.285-1.154; P = 0.124). CIBERSORT analysis suggested that high CCL5 expression is associated with recruitment of CD8 cells (13% v 6%, P < 0.001; 6% v 1%, P < 0.001 and 12% v 8%, P = 0.003), activated CD4 memory T cells (4% vs. 2%, P < 0.001; 5% vs. 0%, P < 0.001; 3% vs. 0%, P < 0.001) and Macrophages M1 (9% vs. 7%, P = 0.022; 13% vs. 8%, P = 0.005; 11% vs. 5%, P < 0.001) in GSE25066, GSE58812 and GSE76124 datasets, respectively. Conclusions: TILs was the stronger and more significant prognostic immunological marker, even than CCL5 expression. High CCL5 expression was associated with enrichment of CD8 cells, activated CD4 memory T cells and Macrophages M1. Role of these cells in TNBC should be explored more deeply.

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