A1 Journal article (refereed)
Tertiary lymphoid structures in pulmonary metastases of microsatellite stable colorectal cancer (2023)

Karjula, T., Niskakangas, A., Mustonen, O., Puro, I., Elomaa, H., Ahtiainen, M., Kuopio, T., Mecklin, J.-P., Seppälä, T. T., Wirta, E.-V., Sihvo, E., Yannopoulos, F., Helminen, O., & Väyrynen, J. P. (2023). Tertiary lymphoid structures in pulmonary metastases of microsatellite stable colorectal cancer. Virchows Archiv, 483, 21-32. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-023-03577-8

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Karjula, Topias; Niskakangas, Anne; Mustonen, Olli; Puro, Iiris; Elomaa, Hanna; Ahtiainen, Maarit; Kuopio, Teijo; Mecklin, Jukka-Pekka; Seppälä, Toni T.; Wirta, Erkki-Ville; et al.

Journal or series: Virchows Archiv

ISSN: 0945-6317

eISSN: 1432-2307

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 20/06/2023

Volume: 483

Pages range: 21-32

Publisher: Springer

Publication country: Germany

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-023-03577-8

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/88004

Abstract

Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) are ectopic lymphoid aggregates located at sites of chronic inflammation and recognized as prognosticators in several cancers. We aimed to analyse the prognostic effect of TLSs in colorectal cancer (CRC) pulmonary metastases and primary tumours, with a comparison to the CD3+ and CD8+ cell density-based immune cell score (ICS). For TLS density and TLS maximum diameter analysis, 67 pulmonary metastases and 63 primary tumours were stained with haematoxylin and eosin. For ICS scoring and analysis, CD3 and CD8 immunohistochemistry was performed. Excellent interobserver agreement was achieved in all TLS measurements. Of all patients, 36 patients had low TLS density (< 0.222 follicles/mm) and 31 patients had high TLS density (≥ 0.222 follicles/mm) in the first resected pulmonary metastases. TLS density (adjusted HR 0.91, 0.48–1.73) or maximum diameter (adjusted HR 0.78, 0.40–1.51) did not have prognostic value in pulmonary metastases. In primary tumours, higher TLS density (adjusted HR 0.39, 0.18–0.87) and maximum diameter (adjusted HR 0.28, 0.11–0.73) were associated with lower mortality. In the pulmonary metastases, ICS had superior prognostic value to TLSs; however, TLSs and ICS were significantly associated. In conclusion, TLSs in CRC pulmonary metastases had no prognostic value but correlated with the ICS. TLSs in primary tumours associated with favourable prognosis.

Keywords: cancerous diseases; cancer of the large intestine; metastases; lungs; tumours; forecasts

Free keywords: tertiary lymphoid structures; pulmonary metastasis; microsatellite stable colorectal cancer

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2023

JUFO rating: 1