Abstract:

Objective

To study the expression of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes(TILs)and T helper cytokines in invasive micropapillary carcinoma(IMPC),invasive ductal carcinoma(IDC)and medullary carcinoma(MC)of the breast.

Methods

Three T-cell markers including pan-T cell marker(CD3),T-helper cell marker(CD4),cytotoxic T cell marker(CD8),and four T-helper cytokines including interleukin-2(IL-2),interferon-gamma(IFNγ),interleukin-4(IL-4),and interleukin-10(IL-10)were tested immunohistochemically in the three groups,(IMPC n=61,IDC n=71,and MC n=27)on formalin-fixed,paraffin embedded tumors.Kruskal-Wallis Test and Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test were used for analysis of TILs;chi-square test was used for analysis of T helper cytokines.

Results

Markers,CD3,CD4 and CD8,all expressed in the cell membrane of lymphocytes.There was no statistical difference in CD3⁺T cells number between the three groups(P=0.705);CD8⁺T cells and CD4⁺T cells were statistically different between the three groups(P=0.000,P=0.012).T helper cytokines expressed in cytoplasm of tumour cells and lymphocytes.The expression of IL-2 was the highest in the MC group(20/27,74.1%),followed by the IDC group(33/71,46.5%),and the lowest in the IMPC group(25/61,41.0%),there was a statistical difference between the three groups(P=0.014).The expression of IFN-γwas the highest in the MC group(24/27,88.9%)followed by the IDC group(57/71,80.3%),and the lowest in the IMPC group(39/61,63.9%),there was a statistical difference between the three groups(P=0.019).The positive expression of IL-4 was the highest in the IDC group(42/71,59.2%),followed by the IMPCgroup(19/61,31.1%)and the lowest in the MC group(5/27,18.5%),there was a statistical difference between the three groups(P=0.000).The positive rate of IL-10 expression was 87.8%(47/61)in the IMPC group,87.3%(62/71)in the IDC group,and 88.9%(24/27)in the MC group,with no statistical difference between the three groups.(P＞0.050).

Conclusion

The expressions of infiltrating T lymphocytes and T helper cytokines were different in different types of breast carcinomas,which may be responsible for different biologic behavior.

Key words: Breast neoplasms, Infiltrating T lymphocytes, T helper cytokines