Abstract 5817
Background
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most aggressive subtypes in breast cancer and has a worse prognosis than others. Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) are considered to be a prognostic factor in TNBC. Cytotoxic T cells (CTL) produce cytokines and cytotoxic substances such as perforin and granzyme B, and attack target cells. We have previously shown that combination of PD-L1 expression and TIL is useful as a functional indicator of tumor immune activation. Granzyme B released from CTL induces apoptosis by passing through pores formed by perforin on the cell membrane of target cells. We focused on the cytotoxic substance granzyme B and explored functional of TIL.
Methods
This study included 228 patients with primary TNBC who underwent resection without neoadjuvant chemotherapy at Kyushu University Hospital (Japan), between January 2004 and December 2014. We retrospectively analyzed granzyme B, CD8, PD-L1 expression assessed by immunohistochemistry and TIL in 228 TNBCs. Granzyme B was evaluated in TIL, ≥ 3% was defined as high expression, and < 3% as low. We also explored the correlation between immunologic features on tumors and immune cells and the clinicopathological characteristics of the tumors, their response to chemotherapy and clinical outcome.
Results
Among the 228 tumors, granzyme B expression was classified as high in 106 (46.5%), low in 122 (53.5%). Granzyme B-high is correlated with high levels of TIL (p = 0.004), CD8 expression of T cell (p = 0.016) and PD-L1 of tumor cells (p<.0001). In the TIL-high and granzyme B-high group, it is considered that the anti-tumor immune system is activated, and it tend to be the most favorable prognosis. On the other hand, in the TIL-high and granzyme B-low group, despite lymphocyte migration, it is presumed that they do not recognize the antigen, that is, they are in a state of immune tolerance and thus have a poor prognosis. In the group with granzyme B-high, the patients treated with anthracycline as adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improved their prognosis (p = 0.043). The high expression of granzyme B may be a predictor of postoperative chemotherapy.
Conclusions
Granzyme B is an important substance of cytotoxic pathway and has been possible to be an indicator of TIL activation.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
Masafumi Nakamura.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Resources from the same session
1269 - One-year follow-up results of eribulin for soft-tissue sarcoma including rare subtypes in a real-world observational study in Japan
Presenter: Shunji Takahashi
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
2868 - Prevalence of chemotherapy use and its impact on overall survival in patients with bone- and soft tissue sarcomas -A population-based analysis of 3746 patients
Presenter: Herbert Loong
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3042 - Clinical course and therapeutic management of classical and endemic Kaposi’s Sarcoma (C/E KS)
Presenter: Lina Benajiba
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3141 - The final outcomes of study on combined therapy of adult patients with localized synovial sarcoma
Presenter: Katarzyna Kozak
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5449 - Real-world Outcomes of Patients with Locally Advanced or Metastatic Epithelioid Sarcoma
Presenter: Mrinal Gounder
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4465 - SAKK 57/16 Nab-Paclitaxel And Gemcitabine in soft tissue sarcoma (NAPAGE): results from the phase I part of a phase I/II trial
Presenter: Antonia Digklia
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5013 - Outcome of 98 patients with epithelioid sarcoma treated in curative intent: a retrospective study from the French Sarcoma Group (GSF-GETO)
Presenter: Maud Pedrono
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5614 - Comparison of filgrastim and pegfilgrastim prophylaxis in sarcoma patients receiving highly myelosuppressive chemotherapy.
Presenter: Paolo Tarantino
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
1033 - Access to clinical trials for soft tissue sarcoma patients in Western and Eastern Europe
Presenter: Vasilii Ostafiichuk
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4094 - Treatment outcomes for adult patients with localized osteosarcoma treated with chemotherapy without methotrexate
Presenter: Marília Silva
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract