PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - RAFAL MATKOWSKI AU - IWONA GISTEREK AU - AGNIESZKA HALON AU - ALEKSANDRA LACKO AU - KRZYSZTOF SZEWCZYK AU - URSZULA STASZEK AU - MAREK PUDELKO AU - BARTLOMIEJ SZYNGLAREWICZ AU - JOLANTA SZELACHOWSKA AU - ANDRZEJ ZOLNIEREK AU - JAN KORNAFEL TI - The Prognostic Role of Tumor-infiltrating CD4 and CD8 T Lymphocytes in Breast Cancer DP - 2009 Jul 01 TA - Anticancer Research PG - 2445--2451 VI - 29 IP - 7 4099 - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/29/7/2445.short 4100 - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/29/7/2445.full SO - Anticancer Res2009 Jul 01; 29 AB - Background: The aim of the study was to assess the prognostic role of CD4 and CD8 expression and the type, density, localization and distribution of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in patients with breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Tissue samples were obtained from 88 breast cancer patients with operable disease and ductal histology. Forty-three women had pathologically confirmed axillary lymph node involvement. The TILs and expression of CD8 (cytotoxic T-cells) and CD4 (T-helper cells) were evaluated in the tumor samples using mouse monoclonal antibodies. Results: Thirteen patients relapsed; nine of them had strong expression of CD4 and CD8, which was statistically significant. The patients with high expression of CD4 or CD8 had distinctly worse cancer specific overall survival (OS). High correlations between CD4 and CD8 expression and lymph node status and intensity of lymphatic infiltrate as well as between both markers were found. Conclusion: The analysis of tumor-infiltrating immune cells may be a valuable prognostic tool and a marker of lymph node involvement.