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Background/aim The aim of this study was to investigate PD-L1 expression and its association with prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil and cisplatin, NAC-FP). Patients and methods Using a database of 69 ESCC patients, we analyzed PD-L1 expression on tumor cells (TCs) and immune cells (ICs), as well as the density of CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in pretreatment biopsy specimens-versus-surgical specimens after resection. We determined the prognostic significance of these factors. Results The fraction of ESCC containing ICs expressing PD-L1 and having a high CD8+ TIL density was significantly increased after neoadjuvant treatment. However, PD-L1 expression on TCs or ICs, and CD8+ TIL density, was not significantly associated with patient survival in ESCC patients. Conclusion NAC-FP induced PD-L1 expression on ICs and CD8+ TILs in ESCC patients. This finding suggests that PD-1/PD-L1 blockade could be combined with NAC-FP to treat ESCC patients.

Background/aim Perioperative intra-abdominal infection has been reported as a risk factor for metastasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism by which peritonitis induces immunosuppression in the lung, which in turn promotes lung metastasis. Materials and methods C57BL/6 mice were intravenously administered B16F10 melanoma cells to induce lung metastasis and subsequently subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) to induce peritonitis or sham surgery. The number of lung metastatic nodules was evaluated. Cell fractions in lungs and serum cytokines after CLP were investigated. Results CLP mice showed an increased number of lung metastases compared to sham-treated mice. The fraction and number of natural killer (NK) cells in lungs of CLP mice were significantly reduced in early post-CLP phase. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in lungs were significantly decreased in CLP mice. Serum IL-6 and TNF levels were significantly elevated in CLP mice. Conclusion Peritonitis promoted lung metastasis in a murine model, which may be attributable to the impact of NK cells and MDSCs in the lungs.

In tumor immunity, invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells play a pivotal role as a link between the innate and adaptive immune systems. With a precisely regulated activation mechanism, iNKT cells have the ability to respond quickly to antigenic stimulation and rapidly produce cytokines and chemokines, and subsequently an effective antitumor immune response. The development of iNKT cell-targeted active immunotherapy enables, not only an antitumor immune response through innate and acquired immunity, but also the conversion of an immunosuppressive into an immunogenic microenvironment. This review is focused on the activation mechanism and the role of iNKT cells after therapeutic active immunization. The therapeutic strategy targeting iNKT cells is expected to be applied to clinical practice in combination with surgery and chemotherapy.

The aim of this study was to investigate PD-L1 expression and its association with prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil and cisplatin, NAC-FP).Using a database of 69 ESCC patients, we analyzed PD-L1 expression on tumor cells (TCs) and immune cells (ICs), as well as the density of CD8The fraction of ESCC containing ICs expressing PD-L1 and having a high CD8NAC-FP induced PD-L1 expression on ICs and CD8

BACKGROUND Malignant tumors inhibit antitumor immune responses, which are driven by T-regulatory cells or myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Since MDSCs are involved in invasion, migration, and metastasis of tumor cells, we hypothesized that MDSCs are also involved in tumor recurrence after surgical resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS C57BL/6 mice were subcutaneously inoculated with B16F10 melanoma cells in the right flank. In some experiments, established tumors were surgically resected. Peripheral blood was drawn over time, and immune cells and cytokines were evaluated using flow cytometry. RESULTS MDSCs and relevant pro-inflammatory cytokines increased in the peripheral blood of tumor-bearing mice. Moreover, the frequency of MDSCs rapidly increased in mice with tumor recurrence. CONCLUSION The frequency of MDSCs in the peripheral blood of tumor-bearing mice reflects the status of tumor progression as well as tumor recurrence. Continuous monitoring of MDSCs in the peripheral blood might be a useful indicator of tumor recurrence.

BACKGROUND/AIM The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic surgery in elderly patients with colorectal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS In total, 223 patients aged

For the application of invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells in cancer therapy, the CD40-CD40L interaction is indispensable in administering alpha-galactosylceramide (αGalCer). We hypothesized that CD40 plays an important role in dendritic cells (DC) pulsed with αGalCer (DCGs) in the treatment of lung metastases.Wild-type (WT) and CD40(-/-) mice were treated with DCGs isolated from WT or CD40(-/-) mice in a B16F10 lung metastases model and NK and NKT cell activity in lungs and the spleen were examined.DCG treatment improved WT mice survival but CD40(-/-) hosts received no survival benefit. Conversely, attenuation of a therapeutic effect in mice treated with CD40(-/-) DCGs was not observed. The functional activities of NK and NKT cells in DCG-treated CD40(-/-) mice were partially suppressed.Host CD40 is essential for DCG treatment to have a therapeutic effect on B16F10 lung metastases.

We aimed to examine the relationship between antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) positivity and survival in patients with non-B non-C hepatocellular carcinoma (NBNC-HCC) who underwent curative treatment.A total of 260 patients with NBNC-HCC who underwent curative therapy were analyzed. They included 124 anti-HBc-positive patients (47.7%) and 136 anti-HBc-negative patients (52.3%). Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were compared.The 3-year cumulative OS rates were 75.9% in the anti-HBc-positive group and 82.3% in the anti-HBc-negative group (p=0.069). The corresponding RFS rates were 29.8% in the anti-HBc-positive group and 43.0% in the anti-HBc-negative group (p=0.001). Multivariate analyses identified anti-HBc positivity (p=0.006), aspartate aminotransferase ≥ 40 IU/l (p=0.037) and des-γ-carboxy prothrombin ≥ 100 mAU/ml (p=0.046) as significant adverse predictors were linked to RFS.Anti-HBc positivity can be a useful predictor for recurrence in patients with NBNC-HCC after curative therapy.

We examined the prognostic value of pre-treatment C-reactive protein (CRP) after surgical resection (SR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).A total of 298 patients with HCC who underwent SR were analyzed. They were categorized into a CRP-positive group (group A: CRP0.2 mg/dl, n=130) and a CRP-negative group (group B: CRP0.2 mg/dl, n=168). Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were compared.The 1- and 3-year cumulative OS rates were 87.0% and 68.3% in group A and 95.9% and 81.1% in group B (p=0.194). The corresponding RFS rates were 61.6% and 30.3% in group A and 77.2% and 44.9% in group B (p=0.004). In multivariate analysis, the pre-treatment CRP level was a significant prognostic factor linked to RFS (p=0.046).Pre-treatment CRP levels may be a useful predictor of recurrence after SR for HCC.