The Open Breast Cancer Journal

2014, 6 : 9-19
Published online 2014 October 21. DOI: 10.2174/1876817201406010009
Publisher ID: TOBCANJ-6-9

The Prognostic and Predicting Roles of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Breast Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Ezzeldin M. Ibrahim , Meteb Al-Foheidi , Mubarak M. Al-Mansour , Ghieth A Kazkaz and Tahir E. Yunus
Oncology Center of Excellence, International Medical Center, PO Box 2172, Jeddah 21451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Background:

The relationship between lymphocyte infiltrates (LIs) and breast cancer outcome remains controversial. We performed this meta-analysis to elucidate the relationship.

Methods:

A literature search identified 21 eligible studies.

Results:

16,097 patients were included. Multivariate analyses data for patients with unspecified receptors status showed that rich LIs expression was associated with 52% (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.30-0.77), and 29% (HR = 0.71; 95% CI, 0.63-0.80) reduction in the risk of relapse and death, respectively. In the neoadjuvant setting, rich LIs predicted a 28% increase in complete pathological response rate. The prognostic and predictive utility of rich LIs was restricted to patients with estrogen receptor negative (ER-) or triple negative disease. Only rich CD8+ T cells tumors demonstrated clinical utility.

Conclusion:

LIs significantly correlated to outcome predominantly in ER- tumors. Integrating immunotherapy with conventional therapy may warrant future research in breast cancer.

Keywords:

Breast cancer, lymphocyte, prediction, prognosis.