雌激素受体阳性、人表皮生长因子受体 2 阴性乳腺癌中 TIL（肿瘤浸润淋巴细胞）的预后价值

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are a significant prognostic factor in triple-negative breast cancer.

However, the clinicopathological significance of TILs in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer remains unclear. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the role of TILs in the prognosis of ER-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer. A total of 65 consecutive patients with ER-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer were examined. TILs in stromal tissue (str-TILs) were graded using the International TILs Working Group criteria. The association between several clinicopathological factors and TIL grade were investigated, and the prognostic impact of TILs was compared between luminal A-like and luminal B-like breast cancer.

A total of 51 patients (78. 5%) had low-grade (0-10%), 11 (16. 9%) had intermediate (10-40%) and 3 (4. 6%) had high-grade (40-90%) str-TIL levels. There was a significant association between high levels of Ki67 expression and a high str-TIL count.

Relapse-free survival was significantly worse in patients with luminal B-like cancer compared with that in patients with luminal A-like cancer. Patients with an intermediate or high str-TIL count had a better prognosis compared with those with a low str-TIL count. All patients with luminal B-like cancer and intermediate or high str-TIL levels developed no recurrence during follow-up.

In conclusion, there was a significant correlation between high-grade str-TIL levels and high tumor cell proliferation rate, as well as high levels of Ki67 expression.