Annika Håkansson

Tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes in metastatic malignant melanoma and response to interferon alpha treatment

Interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) has a documented activity against malignant melanoma with a response rate of only approximately 20%. It would therefore be of considerable importance if patients likely to respond could be identified. The degree of mononuclear cell infiltration in primary tumours has been reported to correlate with a favourable prognosis. This investigation used monoclonal antibodies, anti-CD4, -CD8 and -CD11c, to identify subsets of tumour-infiltrating mononuclear cells in fine needle aspirates to study whether the presence of such cells correlates with the therapeutic effect of IFN-alpha. Twenty-one patients with systemic and 20 with regional metastatic malignant melanoma were studied before initiation of IFN-alpha treatment. A statistically significant correlation (P < 0.001) was found between the occurrence of CD4+ lymphocytes in fine needle aspirates and the therapeutic benefit of IFN-alpha in patients with systemic disease. Ten out of 11 with moderate to high numbers of infiltrating CD4+ lymphocytes achieved tumour regression. In contrast, among patients with low numbers of these cells in metastatic lesions, nine out of ten had progressive disease. Similar results were found in patients with regional disease.

Down-regulation of the CD3-ζ chain in sentinel node biopsies from breast cancer patients

AbstractBackground. In several neoplastic diseases, immunosuppression has been shown to correlate with disease stage, progression, and outcome. As the prognosis for metastatic breast cancer is still pessimistic, additional strategies are being sought to improve survival. Local immunosuppression in sentinel node biopsies from 24 evaluable breast cancer patients was studied as a possible way of selecting patients for immunotherapy. Method. Sentinel node biopsy was performed in 24 out of 25 women operated on for primary breast cancer (one was not evaluable). Specimens were snap-frozen and double-stained for the ζ-chain of the T-cell receptor. The degree of down-regulation of the ζ-chain was evaluated in three different lymph-node areas: primary follicles, secondary follicles, and paracortex. Results. Down-regulation of varying degrees was noted in all 24 sentinel node biopsies. A high degree of down-regulation (more than 50% of T-cells not expressing ζ-chain) was seen in the primary follicles in six patients (25%), in the secondary follicles in 13 patients (72%), and in the paracortex in 19 patients (79%). Conclusion. Local down-regulation of an immune function parameter was seen in sentinel node biopsies from breast cancer patients. In addition to possible prognostic implications, the sentinel node might be an appropriate location for detecting early-stage immunological down-regulation, which might open a possibility of selecting patients who could benefit from immunotherapy.

Biochemotherapy of metastatic malignant melanoma. Predictive value of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes

The therapeutic efficacy of biochemotherapy in metastatic malignant melanoma still carries a low remission rate, but with some durable responses. It would therefore be of considerable importance if patients with a high probability of responding could be identified using predictive tests. The response to interferon-alpha (IFN-α) correlates with the occurrence of CD4+ lymphocytes identified by fine-needle aspirates from melanoma metastases (Håkansson et al, 1996). The present investigation studies a possible correlation between tumour-infiltrating CD4+ lymphocytes in malignant melanoma metastases and the therapeutic effect of biochemotherapy. A total of 25 patients with systemic and 16 with regional metastatic melanoma were analysed before initiation of biochemotherapy (cis-platinum 30 mg/m2 d.1–3, DTIC 250 mg/m2 d.1–3 i.v. and IFN-α2b 10 million IU s.c. 3 days a week, q. 28d.). A monoclonal antibody, anti-CD4, was used to identify tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes in fine-needle aspirates before start of treatment. The presence of these lymphocytes was correlated to response, time to progression and overall survival. A statistically significant correlation (P = 0.01) was found between the occurrence of CD4+ lymphocytes and tumour regression during biochemotherapy in patients with systemic disease. Out of 14 patients with moderate to high numbers of infiltrating CD4+ lymphocytes, 12 achieved tumour regression. In contrast, among patients with low numbers of these cells in metastatic lesions, 8 out of 11 had progressive disease. We also found a significantly longer time to progression (P < 0.003) and overall survival (P < 0.01) among patients with moderate to high numbers of these cells compared to patients with low numbers of these cells before initiation of biochemotherapy. Furthermore, in patients with regional disease, we found a significantly longer time to progression (P = 0.01) and a trend toward a longer overall survival time (P = 0.09). Based on these results and as previously shown with IFN-α therapy alone, there seems to be a need for CD4+ lymphocytes infiltrating the tumours before the start of biochemotherapy to make the treatment successful. Determination of these cells in fine-needle aspirates seems to be a method to predict responders to biochemotherapy, thus increasing the cost–benefit of this treatment strategy considerably, both in terms of patient adverse reactions and health care costs.

On the biological relevance of MHC class II and B7 expression by tumour cells in melanoma metastases

A large number of studies have indicated that specific immune reactivity plays a crucial role in the control of malignant melanoma. In this context, expression of MHC I, MHC II and B7 molecules by melanoma cells is seen as relevant for the immune response against the tumour. For a better understanding of the biological relevance of MHC II and B7 expression by tumour cells in metastatic melanoma, we studied the expression of these molecules in melanoma metastases in relation to the inflammatory response, regression of the tumour and survival from 27 patients treated with biochemotherapy (30 mg m−2 Cisplatin and 250 mg m−2 decarbazine (dimethyl-triazene-imidazole-carboxamide, DTIC) on days 1–3 i.v., and 107 IU IFN-α2b 3 days a week s.c., q. 28d). In 19 out of 27 lesions studied, we found expression of MHC II by the tumour cells, while only in one out of 11 tumour biopsies obtained from untreated metastatic melanoma patients, MHC II expression was detected. Expression of B7.1 and B7.2 by tumour cells was found in nine out of 24 and 19 out of 24 lesions, respectively. In all cases where B7.1 expression was found, expression of B7.2 by the tumour cells was also seen. In general, no or only few inflammatory cells positive for B7 were found. Expression of MHC II by tumour cells was positively correlated with the presence of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes, regression of the lesion, and with time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) of the patient. However, no significant correlation between B7.1 or B7.2 expression and regression of the tumour, TTP or OS was found. In light of other recent findings, these data altogether do support a role as biomarker for MHC II expression by tumour cells; however, its exact immunological pathomechanism(s) remain to be established.

CD28 expression in sentinel node biopsies from breast cancer patients in comparison with CD3-ζ chain expression

BackgroundImmunosuppression is documented in several malignant diseases, including breast cancer. Subsequently, future therapeutic concepts might include immunological approaches. However, detailed knowledge about tumor immunogenicity and host immunoreactivity, and how to assess these adequately, is still limited. We studied CD28 and CD3-ζ expression in sentinel node biopsies (SNB) from breast cancer patients to analyze tumor-related changes in T cell activity.Method25 women underwent surgery for primary breast cancer, including SNB. Frozen sections from 21 sentinel nodes could be analyzed with a double-staining technique. CD28 expression was studied in CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocyte subsets and compared with CD3-ζ expression in three specified nodal regions.ResultsThe degree of CD28 expression varied between the different lymph node areas. The lowest degree of CD28 expression was observed in CD4+ T-lymphocytes in the paracortex and germinal centers. Here, a good agreement with CD3-ζ expression was found. A higher CD28 expression was noted in CD4+ T-cells in the primary follicles, where concordance with CD3-ζ expression was weaker. The CD8+ T-lymphocyte subset displayed generally a higher degree of CD28 expression than the CD4+ subset.ConclusionSentinel lymph nodes from breast cancer patients displayed local immunosuppression of varying extent. In the areas with the lowest degree of CD28 expression an accordingly low CD3-ζ expression was found. The SNB might prove an important diagnostic tool for the evaluation of interactions between tumor and the host immune system, helping to select patients who might benefit from adjuvant immunotherapy.

Preoperative interleukin-6 production by mononuclear blood cells predicts survival after radical surgery for colorectal carcinoma

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the Western world. Staging based on histopathology is currently the most accurate predictor of outcome after surgery. Colorectal cancer is curable if treated at an early stage (stage I‐III). However, for tumors in stages II and III there is a great need for tests giving more accurate prognostic information defining the patient population in need of closer follow‐up and/or adjuvant therapy. Furthermore, tests that provide prognostic information preoperatively could provide a guide both for preoperative oncologic treatment and the surgical procedure.

Sentinel node biopsy in malignant melanoma : Swedish experiences 1997-2005

The sentinel node biopsy (SNB) procedure is a multidisciplinary technique, invented to gain prognostic information in different malignant tumors. The aim of the present study was to study the cohort of patients with malignant melanoma, operated with SNB, from the introduction of the technique in Sweden, concerning the prognostic information retrieved and the outcome of the procedures. In Sweden all patients with malignant melanoma are registered at regional Oncological Centers. From these databases ten centers were identified, treating malignant melanoma and performing sentinel node biopsy. Consecutive data concerning tumor characteristics, outcome of the procedure and disease related events during the follow-up time were collected from these ten centers. All cases from the very first in each centre were included. The SNB procedure was performed in 422 patients with a sentinel node (SN) detection rate of 97%, the mean Breslow thickness of the primary tumors was 3.2 mm (median 2.4 mm) and the proportion of ulcerated melanomas 38%. Metastasis in the SN was found in 19% of the patients but there was a wide range in the proportion of SN metastases between the different centers (5–52%). After a follow-up of median 12 months of 361 patients, SN negative patients had better disease-free survival than SN positive (p<0.0001). A false negative rate of 14% was found during the follow-up time. In this study the surgical technique seemed acceptable, but the non-centralized pathology work-up sub-optimal. However, SNB was still found to be a significant prognostic indicator, concerning disease free survival.

On down-regulation of the immune response to metastatic malignant melanoma.

Abstract Treatment of metastatic malignant melanoma with interferon α (IFNα) results in objective remission in approximately 15% of patients. In a previous investigation, we found that about 50% of the patients achieved at least minor or short-lived remissions. In some tumours extensive areas of regressive tumour change occurred. However, even in these areas remnants of tumour cells were generally found. The short duration of the immune response in some patients and the incomplete eradication of the tumour can be due either to selection of non-immunogenic tumour cells or to down-regulation of the immune reactivity to the tumour. In the present paper, the expression of the ζ chain of the T cell receptor in CD3+ lymphocytes and the expression of CD28 in CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes was studied in resectable melanoma metastases from 20 treated (IFNα or IFNα in combination with cisplatinum and dacarbazine) and 16 untreated patients. A double-staining technique was used, and the occurrence and distribution of lymphocytes showing down-regulation of the ζ chain or CD28 were separately registered in different areas of the metastases: close to the tumour cells in areas of unaffected tumour growth, in areas with regressive tumour changes, in areas with marked fibrosis and in stromal areas with densely packed lymphocytes. CD3+ζ− lymphocytes were found in all metastases, but their number and distribution varied considerably. Down-regulation of the ζ chain was most often found in areas of regressive changes. In contrast, T lymphocytes infiltrating close to the tumour cells had a stronger expression of the ζ chain (P = 0.016). Down-regulation was also found in stromal areas of densely packed lymphocytes and in areas of fibrosis. The pattern of down-regulation of CD28 in various subsets of lymphocytes was similar to that of ζ chain. The same pattern of down-regulation of CD28 and the ζ chain was found in both untreated and treated patients, indicating that the down-regulation is not due to treatment but to the release of immunosuppressor factors from areas with high tumour cell density or extensive destruction of tumour cells. These results concur well with the view that IFNα treatment can result in immune-mediated tumour cell destruction early in the treatment period and that this immune response to the tumour can be followed by immunosuppression within a few weeks.

Quantitative analysis of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-2 mRNA from melanoma cells in blood by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

&NA; Several studies have evaluated the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of tyrosinase mRNA to detect melanoma cells in blood. However, contradictory results have been obtained from different groups. We therefore have developed and validated a quantitative PCR method for tyrosinase and tyrosinase‐related protein‐2 (TRP‐2) mRNA. An important methodological finding was that high concentrations of reverse transcriptase or RNA sample inhibited the following PCR. This could be abolished by dilution of the cDNA sample before the PCR. Standard curves with a linear range over at least five logs were obtained with dilutions of melanoma cell cDNA. Controls (RNA and cDNA) consisting of melanoma cells (1000/ml) added to blood were analysed repeatedly over 3 months, resulting in means between 880 and 1074 AU/ml. The RNA controls were stable, whereas the cDNA controls, as well as the calibrators, showed a tendency to change over time. The variation in the RNA controls was 25% for tyrosinase and 22% for TRP‐2. Seven stage III‐IV melanoma patients were tested for tyrosinase and TRP‐2 transcripts in blood drawn from a peripheral vein and from a Port‐a‐cath. Tyrosinase mRNA was found in three patients (0.8‐12.4 AU/ml). For TRP‐2, the same amount was found in the patients as in healthy donors. No differences were seen between blood from a peripheral vein and from the Port‐a‐cath. We here present fast and sensitive methods for the quantification of tyrosinase and TRP‐2 mRNA in blood.

On the effect of biochemotherapy in metastatic malignant melanoma: an immunopathological evaluation.

Although immunotherapy and biochemotherapy have shown promise, producing a subset of durable responses, for the majority of patients with metastatic melanoma the prognosis is still poor. Therefore there is a great need for predictive tests to identify patients with a high probability of responding. Furthermore, there is also a need for a better understanding of the mechanisms of action during treatment in order to be able to monitor the relevant antitumour reactivity during treatment and to optimize the efficacy of future immunotherapy and biochemotherapy. In the present study histopathological regression criteria were used to study the efficacy of biochemotherapy. Thirty-two patients with metastatic malignant melanoma (18 with regional disease and 14 with systemic disease) were treated with biochemotherapy (cisplatin 30 mg/m2 intravenously on days 1–3, dacarbazine 250 mg/m2 intravenously on days 1–3 and interferon-α2b 10 million IU subcutaneously 3 days a week, every 28 days). Pre-treatment fine needle aspirates were obtained from metastases to analyse the number of tumour-infiltrating CD4+ lymphocytes. Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated in metastases resected after treatment using histopathological criteria of tumour regression. Comparisons were also made with metastases from 17 untreated patients, all with regional disease. Regressive changes of 25% or more (of the section area) were found in two of the 17 untreated patients with regional disease compared with 13 of the 18 patients with regional disease and 10 of the 14 patients with systemic disease after biochemotherapy. Fifty per cent of the patients with regional disease showed a high degree of regressive changes (75–100% of the section area) after biochemotherapy. These results demonstrate the occurrence of an antitumour reactivity in the majority of patients. Patients with extensive regressive changes in 75–100% of the analysed biopsies were also found to have a longer overall survival (P = 0.019). In patients with regional disease there was a close correlation between a larger number of CD4+ lymphocytes pre-treatment and a higher degree of regressive changes post-treatment (P < 0.05). Thus, immunohistochemical analysis of tumour biopsies shortly after treatment seems to be a good surrogate endpoint. This technique also allows detailed analysis of antitumour reactivity and escape mechanisms.