Prognostic factors of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in patients with renal cell carcinoma

CD40 expression in renal cell carcinoma is associated with tumor apoptosis, CD8(+) T cell frequency and patient survival

The co-stimulatory molecule, CD40, is expressed in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and a variety of inflammatory diseases in the kidney. We investigated the relationship between tumor-associated CD40 expression, immune milieu of the tumor microenvironment, tumor stage and survival of patients with RCC. The expression of CD40, TUNEL and CD8 in human renal cell carcinomas was analyzed by immunohistochemistry performed on tissue samples obtained at the time of surgery. Computer-assisted quantitation of protein expression was used to analyze results in connection with patient survival and tumor stage. We show for the first time that tumor-associated CD40 expression is associated with prolonged survival in RCC patients. Tumor apoptosis (TUNEL) and CD8 immunostaining were also associated with patient survival. No relation was observed between CD40 expression and tumor stage. Our results suggest CD40 may be a prognostic biomarker indicative of prolonged RCC patient survival. Strategies that up-regulate CD40 expression in some RCC patients may thus improve survival, supporting further studies of agonistic CD40 antibodies in RCC.

Preoperative sorting of circulating T lymphocytes in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Its prognostic significance

AIM: To elucidate the immunologic parameters for the outcome of patients with malignant tumors, especially esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) associated with high malignant potential.

METHODS: Clinicopathologic features were compared between patients with lower and higher CD4 and CD8 values as well as CD4/CD8 ratio in peripheral blood.

RESULTS: The survival rate of patients with higher CD4 value was significantly better than that in patients with lower CD4 value (P = 0.039). The survival rate of patients with higher CD8 value was significantly worse than that of patients with lower CD8 value (P = 0.026). Similarly, the survival rate of patients with higher CD4/CD8 ratio was significantly better than that of patients with lower CD4/CD8 ratio (P = 0.042). Additionally, multivariate analysis demonstrated that lower CD8 and lower CD4/CD8 ratio were factors independently associated with worse prognosis of patients.

CONCLUSION: All the immunologic parameters can predict the outcome of patients with ESCC.