Tumor- Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs) as a Prognostic Factor in Female Patients with Invasive Breast Carcinoma

Abstract

Background:Breast cancer is a major public health problem for woman. Several studies suggested that development and progression of malignant tumors are characterized by an interaction with the cells in the tumor microenvironment including infiltrating immune cells.

 Aim:The aim was to investigate  relationship between tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in  infiltrating breast carcinoma and other recognized clinicopathological factors.

 Material and Methods: 100 cases of infiltrating breast carcinomas were included in the study.Stromal. TILs status was evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin staining. For all statistical data chi-square test was applied using SPSS and Spearman correlation. P‐values of less than 0.05 were considered as significant.

 Results: Stromal TILs correlated with well-established prognostic markers: HER2 positivity( P=0.001),higher tumour grade (P=0.016), ER negativity (P=0.015), PR negativity (P=0.008),lymph node status (P=0.005) and lymphovascular invasion (LVI)  (P=0.001), molecular classification (P=0.000) , and p53 positivity (P=0.013). No correlation between CD10 positivity or high proliferative index ( KI67) and stromal TILs.

 Conclusion: Stromal TILs  is directly correlated more aggressive phenotype: HER2 positivity , ER negativity, PR negativity ,molecular classification, present  LVI, higher tumor grade and greater nodal involvement; so TILs could be used as novel predictive and prognostic parameter and used to develop newer drugs (immunotherapy).