Phenotypic characterization of chronic inflammation in a rare case of endobronchial carcinoma

Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2010 Sep;59(9):1411-6. doi: 10.1007/s00262-010-0861-x. Epub 2010 May 20.

Abstract

This report presents a phenotypical characterization of the immune cell infiltrate in a rare case of endobronchial carcinoma. A patient initially treated for an adenocarcinoma of the esophagus developed an endobronchial carcinoma surrounded by gastric metaplasia distal to a suspected gastrobronchial fistula, 11 years after esophagectomy. Our hypothesis is that the sustained exposure of the bronchial mucosa to a mixed acid and pancreatobiliary refluxate led to chronic inflammation and promoted malignant transformation. We performed an immunohistochemical study of the tumor microenvironment evaluating the density of CD3(+), CD8(+) T lymphocytes, CD20(+) B lymphocytes, CD68(+) macrophages and FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells. Quantification of immune cell density was completed using a novel software-based analysis method. Our results suggest that, within all the tissues analyzed, FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells were present at their highest density in the malignant and metaplastic tissues. The endobronchial metaplasia biopsied several years prior to the detection of the endobronchial adenocarcinoma was already densely infiltrated by B cells and macrophages, when compared to the immune cell infiltrate of the endobronchial carcinoma. Altogether, these observations support the current understanding of carcinogenesis promoted by chronic inflammation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / immunology*
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Adenocarcinoma / surgery
  • Antigens, CD / biosynthesis
  • Bronchial Fistula / complications*
  • Bronchial Fistula / immunology*
  • Bronchial Fistula / pathology
  • Bronchial Neoplasms / complications
  • Bronchial Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Bronchial Neoplasms / pathology
  • Bronchopneumonia / etiology
  • Bronchopneumonia / immunology
  • Bronchoscopy
  • Cell Count
  • Chronic Disease
  • Disease Progression
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / surgery
  • Esophagectomy
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / biosynthesis
  • Gastric Fistula / complications*
  • Gastric Fistula / immunology*
  • Gastric Fistula / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Inflammation / complications*
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology*
  • Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism*
  • Lymphocyte Subsets / pathology
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / metabolism*
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / pathology
  • Male
  • Metaplasia
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / pathology
  • Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / immunology
  • Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / pathology
  • Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / surgery
  • Stomach / pathology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / pathology

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • FOXP3 protein, human
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors