Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes predict efficacy of preoperative radiotherapy for rectal cancer / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the effect of tumor infiltrating lymphocyte(TIL) on prognosis of rectal cancer treated with preoperative radiotherapy. Methods From Jan. 1999 to Oct. 2007,107 patients with rectal cancer were treated with preoperative radiotherapy of 30 Gy/10f/12 days. The relationships a-mong TIL,pathologic regression and prognosis were analyzed. Results Before radiotherapy,TIL in rectal cancer was 75 patients (70.1%) in grade 1,16 (15.0%) in grade 2 and 16 (15.0%) in grade 3; While after radiotherapy,it changed to 19 (17.7 %) in grade 1,43 (40.2%) in grade 2,35 (32.7 %) in grade 3 and 10 (9.3%) in grade 4. After radiotherapy,pathologic regression was 36 (33.6%) in grade 1,57 (53.3%) in grade 2 and 14 (13.1%) in grade 3. Univariate analysis showed that TIL both before and after radiotherapy was the significant prognostic factor for local pathologic regression (X2= 36.80, P < 0.01; X<'2>= 14.00, P<0.01). Kaplan Meier survival analysis showed that TIL and pathologic regression after radiother-apy were significant associated with the survival(X2=24.00, P < 0.01; X2=12.17, P<0.01 ). Logistic re-gression showed that TIL after radiotherapy had a significant effect on local pathologic regression(X2=8.05, P<0.01). Conclusions For rectal cancer treated with preoperative radiotherapy,TIL before and after ra-diotherapy is significantly related with local pathologic regression, and TIL after radiotherapy is a prognostic factor.