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Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and hepatocellular carcinoma: molecular biology

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Abstract

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) are one of the representative components of host antitumor immune responses. Both the quality and quantity of TIL determine the effect of the antitumor immune reaction. Previous studies have indicated that patients with cancers showing massive infiltration of CD8+ T cells generally have a better clinical outcome. Conversely, patients with marked infiltration of immunosuppressive cells such as regulatory T cells tend to have a worse prognosis for several types of cancer. The density and distribution of TIL are also strongly affected by the trafficking route. Tumor-associated blood vessels in various cancers are structurally and functionally abnormal, and such abnormal vessels reportedly become an obstacle for infiltration of immune effector cells into tumors. Recently, understanding of the molecular mechanisms of lymphocyte trafficking has progressed rapidly. This review focuses on the mechanisms of lymphocyte trafficking to tumor cells and also discusses the importance of blood vessel for TIL trafficking, especially in relation to hepatocarcinogenesis.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Third Term Comprehensive 10-year Strategy for Cancer Control from the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare of Japan and a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan.

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No author has any conflict of interest.

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  1. Pathology Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan

    Nobuyoshi Hiraoka

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Correspondence to Nobuyoshi Hiraoka.

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Hiraoka, N. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and hepatocellular carcinoma: molecular biology. Int J Clin Oncol 15, 544–551 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-010-0130-1

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