Purpose : Tumor-infiltrating γδT cells (γδTILs) have different prognostic value and functions among various cancers. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of γδTILs in gastric cancer. Patients and methods : A discovery set (n = 190) and a validation set (n = 273) were involved in this study. Patients with TNM II and III disease were used to predict response to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) in both sets. γδTILs were defined as intense (γδT cells≥ 5/HPF) versus nonintense (γδT cells<5/HPF). Kaplan-Meier curve was plotted to analysis survival. Hazard ratio (HR) and 95%CI associated with γδTILs were evaluated by multivariable Cox models. Findings : The prognostic value of γδTILs in the discovery set (HR, 0.193; 95%CI, 0.097-0.383; P<0.001) was confirmed in the validation set (HR, 0.442; 95%CI, 0.251-0.779; P = 0.005) for overall survival (OS). Patients whose tumors with γδT cells≥ 5/HPF could benefit from ACT, with a reduced risk of compromised survival compared with those with γδT cells<5/HPF (HR, 0.086; 95%CI, 0.023-0.327; P<0.001 in discovery set; and HR, 0.077; 95%CI, 0.023-0.256; P<0.001 in validation set). Conclusion : The present study shows that intense γδT cells infiltration is an independent prognostic factor in patients with gastric cancer and is predictive of a survival benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with TNM II and III disease.
Keywords: adjuvant chemotherapy; gastric cancer; overall survival; prognosis; γδT cells.