Background/Objectives : Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and inflammation status are emerging prognostic markers in various cancers, but their significance in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSC) remains unclear.
Our objective was to evaluate different TIL subtypes and inflammation status in relation to progression-free survival (PFS) in primary HGSC. Methods : CD3 + /CD4 + /CD8 + /PD-1+ stromal TILs (sTILs) and intraepithelial TILs (iTILs) were evaluated by manual assessment and digital image analysis (DIA), following TIL Working Group recommendations.
Inflammation status was evaluated through the following scores: systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV), CA125, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Results : CD8 + TILs were the most prevalent subtype in both iTILs and sTILs.
However, sTILs were significantly more abundant than iTILs ( p < 0. 001) among all subsets, except for PD-1+ cells. DIA results of TIL assessments were in agreement with manual assessments. High stromal CD3 + and CD8 + TILs, PIV, CA125, and LDH, were associated with improved PFS. Potential independent prognostic factors for PFS in manual assessment were PIV (HR = 0. 32, CI 95% = 0. 12-0.
82) and CD8 + sTILs (HR = 0. 30, CI 95% = 0. 12-0. 79), whereas in DIA assessment they were CD3 + sTILs (HR = 0. 31, CI 95% = 0. 15-0. 67), PIV (HR = 0. 35, 95% CI 0. 13-0. 96), and residual disease (HR = 0. 21 95% CI 0. 08-0. 53). Conclusions : CD3 + /CD8 + sTILs and PIV are promising prognostic indicators in HGSC; however, further research is needed to confirm their clinical utility.