Brief Article
Copyright ©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Oct 28, 2009; 15(40): 5053-5057
Published online Oct 28, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.5053
Liver tumor infiltrating lymphocytes: Comparison of hepatocellular and cholangiolar carcinoma
Hans-Udo Kasper, Uta Drebber, Dirk Ludger Stippel, Hans Peter Dienes, Anton Gillessen
Hans-Udo Kasper, Department of Pathology, Medical Center, Clemenshospital Münster, Düesbergweg 128, D-48153 Münster, Germany
Uta Drebber, Hans Peter Dienes, Department of Pathology, University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 9, D-50931 Köln, Germany
Dirk Ludger Stippel, Department of Visceral and Vascular Surgery, University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 9, D-50931 Köln, Germany
Anton Gillessen, Department of Gastroenterology, Herz-Jesu-Hospital Hiltrup, Westfalenstrasse 109, D-48163 Münster, Germany
Author contributions: Kasper HU and Drebber U performed the experiments and analyzed the data; Stippel DL and Dienes HP contributed substantially to conception and design of the study; Stippel DL was responsible for acquisition of material; Gillessen A contributed to interpretation of the data; Kasper HU wrote the manuscript; Dienes HP and Gillessen A critically revised the manuscript.
Supported by Centre of Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Köln, Germany
Correspondence to: Dr. Hans-Udo Kasper, Department of Pathology, Medical Center, Clemenshospital Münster, Düesbergweg 128, D-48153 Münster, Germany. email@patho-muenster.de
Telephone: +49-251-764030 Fax: +49-251-7640376
Received: May 4, 2009
Revised: August 10, 2009
Accepted: August 17, 2009
Published online: October 28, 2009
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the role of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in primary hepatocellular and cholangiolar carcinomas of the liver.

METHODS: Immunohistochemical analysis was performed including antibodies to CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, CD56 and TIA-1 in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue of 35 liver resection specimens of hepatocellular or cholangiocellular carcinomas. Semiquantitative evaluation was performed with emphasis on the area of the tumor itself and of the tumor/liver interface.

RESULTS: All hepatocellular carcinomas showed infiltration of lymphocytes predominantly around the tumor in the tumor/liver interface consisting mainly of CD3+ CD4+ T lymphocytes [164.3/10 high power fields (HPF)] and in the tumor itself of CD8+ cells (54.9/10 HPF). Cholangiocarcinomas contained a heterogeneous amount of TIL, composed mainly of CD3+ T cells with a predominance of CD8+ cells in the tumor tissue (52.6/10 HPF) and of CD4+ cells in the interface region (223.1/10 HPF). CD56+ cells of the innate immune system were scarce. There was no significant difference between hepatocellular or cholangiolar carcinoma. No correlation with the clinicopathological data was seen.

CONCLUSION: Liver TIL consists of intratumoral CD8+ T cells and peritumoral CD4+ T cells independent of histogenetic origin. Different functions of lymphocytes in these regions seem possible.

Keywords: Liver neoplasms; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Lymphocytes; Immunologic factors; Cholangiocarcinoma