Tumor-infiltrating plasmacytoid dendritic cells are associated with survival in human colon cancer

• DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001813
• Publication Date: 2021-03-24T16:42:25Z
• Authors: Maximilian Kießler; Ioana Plesca; Ulrich Sommer; Rebekka Wehner; Friederike Wilczk...; Luise Müller; Antje Tunger; Xixi Lai; Anke Rentsch; Kenneth Peuker; Sebastian Zeissig; Adrian M Seifert; Lena Seifert; Jürgen Weitz; Michael Bachmann; Martin Bornhäuser; Daniela Aust; Gustavo Baretton; Marc Schmitz
• Keywords: Granzyme; BTLA

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) play a key role in the induction and maintenance of antitumor immunity. Conversely, they can act as tolerogenic DCs by inhibiting tumor-directed immune responses. Therefore, pDCs may profoundly influence tumor progression. To gain novel insights into colon cancer, we investigated frequency clinical relevance primary tissues from patients with cancer different clinicopathological characteristics.Immunohistochemical stainings were performed to explore tumor-infiltrating BDCA-2+ cancer. Statistical analyses conducted determine an association between pDC density characteristics patients. Furthermore, used multiplex immunofluorescence evaluate localization phenotype stroma tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) tissues.An increased infiltrating was associated lower Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) stages. higher significantly correlated progression-free overall survival Moreover, number coloncancer-infiltrating independently linked worse prognosis. In addition, found that proportion shows nuclear expression transcription factor interferon regulatory 7 (IRF7), which is characteristic activated phenotype. various regions, IRF7+ located neighborhood granzyme B-expressing CD8+ T cells. identified component cell zone cancer-associated TLS, are major regulators adaptive A TLS-associated displayed IRF7 preferentially close CD4+ cells.These results indicate densities prolonged cancer-infiltrating represent prognostic factor. The colocalization within TLS contribute correlation better our findings have implications design immunotherapeutic strategies based on targeting pDCs.