The Relationship Between Cytotoxic CD8 Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes and Overall Survival in High Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer

(December 11, 2017) A study by the Ovarian Tumor Tissue Analysis Consortium, published in JAMA Oncology, looked at the association between cytotoxic CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and overall survival with certain types of ovarian cancer. After an immunohistochemical analysis of 5,577 patients, researchers saw a strong correlation between high levels of CD8+ TILs and longer survival rates. For patients without CD8+ TILs, the median survival was 2.8 years. For those with CD8+ TILs, however, the median survival was 3 years with low levels, 3.8 years for moderate levels, and 5.1 years with high levels.

For high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), CD8+ TILs were the most beneficial. Patients with endometrioid and mucinous carcinomas also saw a survival benefit from the TILs, as well as BRCA 1 mutation carriers. BRCA 2 carriers were not observed to benefit from them.

The study authors concluded, “that the extent of infiltration is prognostic, not merely its presence or absence, suggests that understanding factors that drive infiltration will be the key to unraveling outcome heterogeneity in this cancer.”

You can also read more about the study on Healio.