Prognostic value of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in estrogen receptor-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative breast cancer.
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are a significant prognostic factor in triple-negative breast cancer. However, the clinicopathological significance of TILs in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer remains unclear. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the role of TILs in the prognosis of ER-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer. A total of 65 consecutive patients with ER-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer were examined. TILs in stromal tissue (str-TILs) were graded using the International TILs Working Group criteria. The association between several clinicopathological factors and TIL grade were investigated, and the prognostic impact of TILs was compared between luminal A-like and luminal B-like breast cancer. A total of 51 patients (78.5%) had low-grade (0-10%), 11 (16.9%) had intermediate (10-40%) and 3 (4.6%) had high-grade (40-90%) str-TIL levels. There was a significant association between high levels of Ki67 expression and a high str-TIL count. Relapse-free survival was significantly worse in patients with luminal B-like cancer compared with that in patients with luminal A-like cancer. Patients with an intermediate or high str-TIL count had a better prognosis compared with those with a low str-TIL count. All patients with luminal B-like cancer and intermediate or high str-TIL levels developed no recurrence during follow-up. In conclusion, there was a significant correlation between high-grade str-TIL levels and high tumor cell proliferation rate, as well as high levels of Ki67 expression.
['Honda|Chikako|C|', 'Kurozumi|Sasagu|S|', 'Katayama|Ayaka|A|', 'Hanna-Khalil|Bishoy|B|', 'Masuda|Kei|K|', 'Nakazawa|Yuko|Y|', 'Ogino|Misato|M|', 'Obayashi|Sayaka|S|', 'Yajima|Reina|R|', 'Makiguchi|Takaya|T|', 'Oyama|Tetsunari|T|', 'Horiguchi|Jun|J|', 'Shirabe|Ken|K|', 'Fujii|Takaaki|T|']
tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative breast cancer estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer invasive breast cancer luminal B-like type