Spatial Distribution and Prognostic Implications of Tumor-Infiltrating FoxP3- CD4+ T Cells in Biliary Tract Cancer

Purpose The clinical implications of tumor-infittratingT cell subsets and their spatial distribution in biliary tract cancer (BTC) patients treated with gemcitabine plus cisplatin were investigated. Materials and Methods A total of 52 BTC patients treated with palliative gemcitabine plus cisplatin were included. Multiplexed immunohistochemistry was performed on tumor tissues, and immune infiltrates were separately analyzed for the stroma, tumor margin, and tumor core. Results The density of CD8(+) T cells, FoxP3(-) CD4(+) helper T cells, and FoxP3(+) CD4(-) regulatory T cells was significantly higher in the tumor margin than in the stroma and tumor core. The density of LAG3(-) or TIM3-expressing CD8(+) T cell and FoxP3(-) CD4(+) helper T cell infiltrates was also higher in the tumor margin. In extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, there was a higher density of T cell subsets in the tumor core and regulatory T cells in all regions. A high density of FoxP3(-) CD4(+) helper T cells in the tumor margin showed a trend toward better progression-free survival (PFS) (p=0.092) and significantly better overall survival (OS) (p=0.012). In multivariate analyses, a high density of FoxP3(-) CD4(+) helper T cells in the tumor margin was independently associated with favorable PFS and OS. Conclusion The tumor margin is the major site for the active infiltration of T cell subsets with higher levels of LAG3 and TIM3 expression in BTC. The density of tumor margin-infiltrating FoxP3(-) CD4(+) helper T cells may be associated with clinical outcomes in BTC patients treated with gemcitabine plus cisplatin.

Automated summary

The density of T cell subsets, including CD8(+) T cells and different types of CD4(+) T cells, is higher in the tumor margin compared to the stroma and tumor core in biliary tract cancer patients treated with gemcitabine plus cisplatin. A high density of FoxP3(-) CD4(+) helper T cells in the tumor margin may be associated with better clinical outcomes.