PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Schumacher, Karin AU - Haensch, Wolfgang AU - Röefzaad, Claudia AU - Schlag, Peter M. TI - Prognostic Significance of Activated CD8<sup>+</sup> T Cell Infiltrations within Esophageal Carcinomas DP - 2001 May 15 TA - Cancer Research PG - 3932--3936 VI - 61 IP - 10 4099 - http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/61/10/3932.short 4100 - http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/61/10/3932.full SO - Cancer Res2001 May 15; 61 AB - The purpose of this study was to explore whether there is a linkage between the infiltration of CD8+ T cells and the risk of death from esophageal cancer. Cases of 70 consecutive patients in whom esophageal squamous cell carcinomas ( n = 33) or adenocarcinomas (n = 37) were R0-resected between 1993 and 1999 were reviewed. The presence of activated CD8+ T cells was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry and compared to clinical and pathological stages. The primary end point analyzed was overall survival, and a multivariate analysis was performed to distinguish any factors conferring an improved survivorship. Intratumoral (i.t.) CD8+ T cells accumulating within the epithelial complexes were detected in 11 of all (16%) cases: in 9 of 25 (36%) patients with Union Internationale Contrele Cancer stage I or II versus 2 of 45 (4%) patients with Union Internationale Contrele Cancer stage III or IV (P = 0.001). Intratumoral CD8+ T cell infiltrations showed proliferative activity and also IFN-γ secretion. The presence of i.t. CD8+ T cell infiltration more than peritumoral infiltration was associated with a good prognosis in both squamous cell and adenocarcinomas. Multivariate analysis showed that i.t. CD8+ T cell infiltration was an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratio, 0.5; P = 0.0004) indicating favorable outcome. In conclusion, the presence of CD8+ T cell infiltration in esophageal carcinomas is a favorable prognostic factor that should have diagnostic and therapeutic implications. ©2001 American Association for Cancer Research.