The Relationship of CD4+, CD8+, and FOXP3+ Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes and Their Ratios With Clinicopathological Parameters and Tumor Budding in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Cohort study reveals prognostic links between lymphocyte subtypes and tumor budding in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, highlighting targets for post-surgery stratification.
Key Points
To evaluate the relationship between CD4+, CD8+, and FOXP3+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) subtypes, their ratios, clinicopathological features, and tumor budding in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
Analyzed tumor tissue from 75 patients diagnosed with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent esophagectomy without prior neoadjuvant therapy.
Performed immunohistochemical staining for CD4, CD8, and FOXP3, quantifying lymphocyte density across 10 high-power fields at the invasive front.
Graded tumor budding into low, intermediate, or high categories and evaluated associations with clinicopathological features and survival.
Low CD4+ TIL density was significantly associated with poor histological grade, deeper tumor invasion, advanced pathological stage, and low tumor budding.
High FOXP3+ TIL expression was significantly associated with deeper invasion and lymph node metastasis, whereas superficial tumors lacked high FOXP3 expression.
A low FOXP3+/CD4+ ratio significantly correlated with longer survival, whereas CD8+ TIL density alone showed no significant prognostic value.