Immune profile by multiplexed immunohistochemistry associated with recurrence after chemoradiation in rectal cancer

Seung Wook Hong; Seohyun Lee; Yun Jae Kim; Soyeon Ahn; In Ja Park; Seung-Mo Hong; Sung Wook Hwang; Sang Hyoung Park; Dong-Hoon Yang; Byong Duk Ye; Jeong-Sik Byeon; Suk-Kyun Yang; Jaeil Kim; Sang-Yeob Kim; Seung-Jae Myung

doi:10.1111/jgh.15773

Immune profile by multiplexed immunohistochemistry associated with recurrence after chemoradiation in rectal cancer

J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022 Mar;37(3):542-550. doi: 10.1111/jgh.15773. Epub 2022 Jan 31.

Authors

Seung Wook Hong^{1

2}, Seohyun Lee³, Yun Jae Kim⁴, Soyeon Ahn⁵, In Ja Park⁶, Seung-Mo Hong⁷, Sung Wook Hwang¹, Sang Hyoung Park¹, Dong-Hoon Yang¹, Byong Duk Ye^{1

2}, Jeong-Sik Byeon^{1

2}, Suk-Kyun Yang¹, Jaeil Kim⁸, Sang-Yeob Kim^{4

9}, Seung-Jae Myung^{1

2

4

9}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Gastroenterology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
² Digestive Diseases Research Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
³ Department of Gastroenterology, Center for Health Promotion, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
⁴ Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
⁵ Department of Pathology, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Incheon, South Korea.
⁶ Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
⁷ Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
⁸ Health Screening and Promotion Center, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
⁹ Department of Convergence Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.

PMID: 34993983
DOI: 10.1111/jgh.15773

Abstract

Background and aim: Evidence has emerged that a pretreatment immune profile in rectal cancer is associated with response to chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and recurrence after CRT. However, few studies have evaluated the immune profile differences after CRT regarding recurrence and nonrecurrence.

Methods: We included patients with advanced rectal cancer treated with CRT and surgery with recurrence within 1 year in a recurrence group. After sex and age matching with the recurrence group, patients with no recurrence for 3 years after CRT were included in a nonrecurrence group. We extracted the immune profile, including CD3 and CD8, from the surgical specimen after CRT using multispectral fluorescence immunohistochemistry and compared the two groups.

Results: The immune profiles of 65 patients with rectal cancer were assessed; 30 were included in the recurrence group and 35 were included in the nonrecurrence group. CD3⁺ and CD8⁺ T lymphocyte densities were significantly higher in the nonrecurrence group than in the recurrence group (CD3⁺ ; P < 0.001, CD8⁺ ; P = 0.003) in the primary tumor. Consistent results were found in epithelial and stromal cells. Compared with the recurrence group, the distinct profiles of co-expressed immune markers in the nonrecurrence group were revealed (CD3⁺ CD8⁺ , P = 0.001; CD3⁺ CD8⁺ PD-L1^- , P = 0.001; CD3⁺ CD8⁺ FOXP3^- PD-L1^- , P = 0.001).

Conclusions: Vigorous CD3⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell priming post-CRT was prominent in the nonrecurrence group compared with that of the recurrence group. This finding suggests that differences in immune profiles may have clinical significance even after CRT.

Keywords: Chemoradiotherapy; Lymphocytes, tumor; Rectal neoplasms.

MeSH terms

Chemoradiotherapy*
Female
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Male
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
Rectal Neoplasms* / metabolism
Rectal Neoplasms* / pathology
Rectal Neoplasms* / therapy
Treatment Outcome

Abstract

MeSH terms

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