Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the clinicopathological influence of tumor-infiltrating cluster of differentiation (CD) 163+ macrophages and CD8+ T-cells, and to clarify the prognostic effects of these cells in patients with invasive extrahepatic bile duct cancer (EHBC).
Materials and methods: The numbers of CD8+ T-cells in cancer cell nests and CD163+ macrophages in tumor stroma were evaluated using immunohistochemistry in 101 resected EHBC specimens. Correlations with clinicopathological variables and overall survival were analyzed.
Results: Perihilar EHBC and perineural invasion were significantly associated with a low number of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T-cells. Poorly- differentiated histology and nodal metastasis were significantly associated with a high number of tumor-infiltrating CD163+ macrophages. A combination of high number of CD8+ T-cells and low number of CD163+ macrophages was independently related to better overall survival in the whole patient cohort (hazard ratio=0.127, p<0.001) and in patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy (hazard ratio=0.139, p=0.021).
Conclusion: Infiltrating CD163+ macrophages in tumor stroma and CD8+ T-cells in cancer cell nests have a prognostic impact in patients with EHBC following resection and also after adjuvant chemotherapy.
Keywords: CD163; CD8; Extrahepatic bile duct cancer; tumor-associated macrophages; tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes.
Copyright© 2017 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.