Infiltration of dendritic cells and T lymphocytes predicts favorable outcome in epithelial ovarian cancer

We aimed to analyze the association between the distribution of dendritic cells (DC) with expression of tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes and clinicopathologic parameters with prognosis in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Thirty-three EOC patient samples were surgically resected, and pathology was examined for clinicopathological variables. Expression of S-100, CD1a, CD45RA and CD45RO was detected using the avidin-biotin complex immunohistochemical technique. The correlation of protein expression with surgical and pathological stage, histological grade, pathological type and prognosis was analyzed. There was significant difference in the CD45RA positive rate in early- and advanced-stage EOC with 50 and 10.5%, respectively (P < 0.05). Univariate analysis showed that CD45RO, histological grade and surgical-pathological staging were all factors that influenced the prognosis of patients with EOC. Higher survival rates were found in patients with harboring populations of CD1a(+) DC and CD45RO(+) T lymphocytes or populations of S-100(+) DC and CD45RO(+) T lymphocytes (P < 0.05). In addition, histological grade is related to cumulative survival rate. The higher degree of cell differentiation presented better outcome. In conclusion, EOC patients with populations of DC and CD45RO(+) T lymphocytes had a higher survival rate. Histological grade and surgical-pathological stage were independent factors affecting prognosis.