Original Article

Year : 2021 | Volume : 5 | Issue : 1 | Page : 13 - 16

Prognostic significance of evaluation of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in triple-negative breast cancer in residual disease postneoadjuvant chemotherapy

Jagannath Dev Sharma, Anupam Sarma, Partha Sarathi Roy1, Argha Baruah, Rakesh Mishra1,Amal Chandra Kataki2, Manoj Kalita3

Departments of Onco Pathology, 1 Medical Oncology and 2 Gynaecological Oncology, Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute, 3 Population Based Cancer Registry (PBCR), Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute, Guwahati, Assam, India

Abstract

Background:

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) are highly heterogeneous tumors and are not eligible for hormonal therapies or human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2(HER 2)-targeted agents and they are associated with failure to achieve pathological complete response (pCR) and has unfavorable prognosis. In the residual disease (postneoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery) of cases of TNBC, identification of parameters for risk stratification is needed for better identification of high-risk patients who require additional systemic treatments. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL’s) are a part of the tumor microenvironment and they are indicator for monitoring immune response and they influence cancer growth, progression, and metastasis. With the success of immunotherapy in various cancers, there is an increasing interest in directly targeting the immune system in TNBC.

Material and Methods:

In our study, 115 TNBC cases were taken and stromal TIL’s were calculated on H and E stained slides and TIL grades (scoring according to International TIL’s Working Group) were compared with clinicopathological parameters and overall survival.

Results:

Statistically significant correlation was found between Stage of presentation, axillary lymph node positivity, relapse, metastasis, and TIL (P < 0.0001). High stage of the tumor, axillary lymph node positivity, cases of relapse, metastasis was associated with Low-grade TIL. High-grade TIL showed a good overall survival (100%) in comparison to intermediate grade TIL 2 (90%) and low-grade TIL 1 (52%).

Conclusion:

TIL scoring in residual disease post neoadjuvant chemotherapy can help in the stratification of high-risk cases and can help in prognostication.

Keywords: Prognosis, triple-negative breast cancer, tumor infiltrating lymphocytes

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

How to cite this article:

Sharma JD, Sarma A, Roy PS, Baruah A, Mishra R, Kataki AC, et al. Prognostic significance of evaluation of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in triple-negative breast cancer in residual disease postneoadjuvant chemotherapy. Int J Clinicopathol Correl 2021;5:13-6.