| Description |
In this study, we explored the association between tumor immune lymphocytes (TILs), tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS), and response to NCIT in resectable NSCLC and the change in TILs before and after NCIT.Thirty-two patients with stage IIA-IIIC NSCLC who underwent surgery after NCIT were included in this retrospective study. Multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) staining and image analysis assays were performed on the samples collected before and after NCIT for each patient. RNA analyses was applied to confirm the mIF results.Among the enrolled patients, 14 achieved MPR or pCR which were defined as response group, whereas 18 did not respond well to NCIT which were defined as non-response group. The results of the mIF assays revealed that the response of NCIT was associated with an increase in immune lymphocytes, including CD3+, CD4+, Foxp3+, CD8+, CD8+PD-1+, PD-L1+CD68+, and TLS. The RNA analyses of 6 patients confirmed the mIF results that TIL elevated after NCIT.The infiltration in TIL increased after NCIT, the increased number of immune cell types may be correlate with the improved clinical benefit from NCIT over NCT. |
