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Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Patients with Melanoma: Which Is Its Prognostic Value?

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Abstract

Oncological impact of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in melanoma remains controversial. We aimed to determine the significance of TILs on melanoma-specific survival (MSS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and sentinel lymph node status (SLN). A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing melanoma resection during the period 2009–2019 was performed. Using the Melanoma Institute Australia grading system for TILs, the cohort was divided into two groups: group 1 (G1), patients with TILs grades 1, 2, or 3 and Group 2 (G2), patients with TILs grade 0. From a total of 386 melanoma resections, 151 (39%) were included in G1 and 39 (10%) in G2. Among the 151 patients who underwent SLN biopsy, the positivity rate according to the TILs grades 0, 1, 2, and 3 was 32%, 18%, 14%, and 0%, respectively, p = 0.02. With an average follow-up of 48 months, the 5-year MSS (G1: 86% vs G2: 75%, p = 0.002) and the 5-year RFS (G1: 81% vs G2: 60%, p = 0.004) were significantly higher in G1 than G2. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in melanoma are associated with the SLN status and with a better MSS and RFS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Hospital Alemán of Buenos Aires, Av. Pueyrredon 1640, C1118AAT, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Cristian A. Angeramo, Francisco Laxague, Norberto A. Mezzadri & Juan M. Fernandez Vila

  2. Division of Surgical Oncology, Hospital Alemán of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Enrique D. Armella, Norberto A. Mezzadri & Juan M. Fernandez Vila

  3. Department of Pathology, Hospital Alemán of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Julieta Rodríguez Catán & Félix A. Vigovich

Authors
  1. Cristian A. Angeramo
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  2. Francisco Laxague
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  3. Enrique D. Armella
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  4. Julieta Rodríguez Catán
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  5. Félix A. Vigovich
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  6. Norberto A. Mezzadri
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  7. Juan M. Fernandez Vila
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Angeramo C.A., Laxague F., and Armella E.D. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Angeramo C.A., Laxague F., and Armella E.D., and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Cristian A. Angeramo.

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The institutional review board (IRB) approved this study. The written informed consent was waived by the IRB owing to the study’s retrospective nature.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Angeramo, C.A., Laxague, F., Armella, E.D. et al. Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Patients with Melanoma: Which Is Its Prognostic Value?. Indian J Surg Oncol 12, 770–775 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13193-021-01427-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13193-021-01427-0

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