The inflammatory infiltrate as a marker of response to therapy in primary tumors of breast cancer patients

C HERRERA, MJ RICO VR ROZADOS, CM ALASINO, AL NOCITO, OG SCHAROVSKY

Rosario,Santa Fe

Congreso; XIII Congreso y XXXI Reunión Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Rosario; 2011

Different types of tumors, including the mammary ones, usually show both intra (ILI) and peritumoral lymphocytic infiltrate (PLI). There is evidence that in tumors from the oral cavity, lung, gastric and malignant melanoma, the intensity of the PLI is related to a good prognosis of the illness. Our objective was: a) to analyze the lymphocytic infiltrate (LI) and the expression of CD4 and CD8 molecules, markers of T lymphocytes subpopulations, in primary tumors of breast cancer patients and, b) to relate them to the clinical evolution (free of illness FI, or relapsed R) after 5 years of the 1ary treatment. The archive samples analyzed were, mainly, stage I and II ductal mammary tumors. It was determined by immunohistochemistry, and confirmed by confocal microscopy, the expression of CD4 and CD8 molecules, in ILI and PLI. The LI was evaluated by Hematoxylin-Eosin stain. The quantification was performed in 20 high power fields, utilizing a 0 (negative) to 6 (high) score. A higher ILI was observed in FI patients (n=16) (median [range]:4 [0-6]) when compared to R patients (n=4) (2[0-2]), (P=0,018). The score of CD4+ and CD8+cells in the LI showed wide variations. The presence in the 1ary tumor of an intense LI could be a marker of good response to treatment, at least during the first 5 years after surgery. Increasing the number of tumor samples analyzed would allow suggesting its use as a marker in the clinical practice.