Absence of Granzyme B positive tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes in primary melanoma excisional biopsies is strongly associated with the presence of sentinel lymph node metastasis.
Publication year
2009Source
Cellular Oncology, 31, 5, (2009), pp. 407-13ISSN
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor

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Organization
Tumorimmunology
Journal title
Cellular Oncology
Volume
vol. 31
Issue
iss. 5
Page start
p. 407
Page end
p. 13
Subject
NCMLS 2: Immune RegulationAbstract
BACKGROUND: Sentinel Lymph Node (SLN) status is strongly related to clinical outcome in melanoma patients. In this study we investigated the possible association between the presence of activated and/or suppressive Tumour Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs) and SLN status in clinically stage I/II melanoma patients. METHODS: Diagnostic primary melanoma samples from 20 patients with a sentinel lymph node metastasis were compared to melanoma samples from 20 patients with a negative sentinel lymph node, who were matched for gender, age and Breslow thickness. Presence of activated Granzyme B positive (GrB+) TILs, presence of suppressive (FoxP3+) TILs and MHC class I antigen expression on tumour cells were analysed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: FoxP3 and MHC-I expression had no direct bearing on the presence of melanoma metastases in the SLN. Whereas the presence of activated GrB+ TILs in the primary melanoma had no predictive value for SLN status either, their absence was strongly associated with the presence of metastasis in the SLN (p=0.001). While both GrB+ and FoxP3+ TILs could be detected in SLN metastases, a majority did not display MHC-I expression. CONCLUSION: These data support a role for cytotoxic T cells in the prevention of early metastasis of melanoma to the draining lymph nodes.
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- Academic publications [203812]
- Electronic publications [102283]
- Faculty of Medical Sciences [80326]
- Open Access publications [70923]
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