Paucity of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes is an unfavorable prognosticator and predicts lymph node metastases in cutaneous melanoma patients.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) have been a subject of growing scientific interest; however, a full picture of their role in cancer pathogenesis is still unclear. The present study aimed to reveal correlations between TIL grade and clinicopathological features, especially 5-year survival parameters in cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) patients.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Presence of TILs was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining in routine diagnostic histopathological specimens from 104 patients with cutaneous melanoma.

RESULTS

In the entire group of 104 patients, decreasing TIL intensity was a highly negative prognostic factor and indicated considerably shorter overall survival (OS), cancer-specific overall survival (CSOS) and disease-free survival (DFS). We also report on a significant association between decreased TIL intensity and worse prognosis in lymph node-negative patients. Shorter survival (p=0.002 for OS, p=0.038 for CSOS and p=0.011 for DFS) was observed in patients with negative sentinel lymph node biopsies (SLNB), as well as in patients with lack of metastases in regional lymph nodes (p=0.034 for OS, p<0.001 for CSOS and DFS).

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that TIL grade is a valuable diagnostic parameter that may be helpful in risk stratification in CMM.