Stromal Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes Associated with Immunohistopathology and Molecular Subtypes of Breast Cancer in Vietnam

Duong, Tu Thanh; Pham, Diem Thi Nhu; Duong, Huong Ngoc Thien; Ly, Thien Thanh; Thai, Tu Anh

doi:10.31557/APJCP.2023.24.7.2523

Stromal Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes Associated with Immunohistopathology and Molecular Subtypes of Breast Cancer in Vietnam

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

¹ Department of Pathology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.

² Department of Pathology, University Medical Center at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.

³ Department of Pathology, Oncology Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.

10.31557/APJCP.2023.24.7.2523

Abstract

Objective: Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease with varied symptoms and pathogenesis, as well as variable prognosis and therapeutic outcomes. Stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, one of the tumor microenvironment factors, has been recognized as an important immunological biomarker that reflected the antitumor immune response in breast cancer. Methods: We analyzed 207 invasive breast cancer patients who had lumpectomy or mastectomy and have not received any pre-operative treatment. Clinicopathological characteristics, immunohistochemistry characteristics, molecular subtypes classification and stromal TILs evaluation were investigated. Result: Stromal TILs correlated with well-established prognostic markers. Tumor grade showed significantly higher sTILs percentages in high-grade tumors than in low-grade tumors (p<0.001). There was a statistically significant association between intermediate and high levels of sTILs and a high Ki-67 index (p< 0.001). ER/PR negative was significantly related to high sTILs. Mean sTILs score was significantly higher in TNBC (40.1±31.6%) compared to others, statistically significant (p<0.001). In HER2-negative breast cancer, sTILs were significantly associated with histologic grade, ER status, PR status, and Ki67 index. Conclusion: sTILs played an important role, associated with unfavorable factors in breast cancer. Our findings support the use of stromal sTILs to identify a more aggressive phenotype of tumors.

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