Prognostic Significance of CD83 Positive Tumor-Infiltrating Dendritic Cells and Expression of TGF-beta 1 in Human Gastric Cancer

Background/Aims: In this study we analyzed the significance of CD1a and CD83 positive tumor infiltrating dendritic cells (TIDCs) and the expression of TGF-beta 1 in gastric cancer tissue, and their relationship with disease progression and prognosis of patients. Methodology: The immunohistochemical expression of CD la, CD83 and TGF-beta 1, was evaluated in 55 patients with gastric cancer and followed-up for five years. Results: We found tumor infiltration with CD1a and CD83 positive DCs in all 55 cases and cytoplasmic TGF-beta 1 immunoreactivity in tumor cells in 76.4% of cases. TGF-beta 1 expression correlated to low CD83 positive DCs in 100% of the samples (X-2=7.66; p=0.022). Low CD83 positive DCs in tumor border (X-2=15.38; p<0.001) was also observed in 100% of tumors with TGF-beta 1 expression. The number of CD1a and CD83 positive TIDCs in the tumor border was inversely correlated with positive lymph node metastases (X-2=6.64; p=0.036 and X-2=6.44; p<0.04, respectively). Patients with a low number of tumor infiltrating CD83 positive DCs had shorter survival rates (p=0.022) and patients with TGF-beta 1 expression had a worse prognosis after surgical therapy (p=0.017). Conclusions: Our results suggest that tumor infiltration with DCs may be of great importance in initiating the primary anti-tumor immune response. In patients with resectable gastric cancer, the grade of TIDCs and TGF-beta 1 expression could be a useful predictor of prognosis.