Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and outcome in Merkel cell carcinoma, a virus-associated cancer.
Nov 2012
Source
Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Molecular Cancer Biology Program; University of Helsinki; Helsinki, Finland.
Abstract
Keywords: Merkel cell carcinoma, Merkel cell polyomavirus, cytotoxic T cells, survival, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes
An intense immune infiltrate, enriched in T cells, is associated with the presence of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) DNA in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a rare skin cancer. High tumor-infiltrating T-cell counts are associated with favorable survival regardless of the tumor MCPyV status. Hence, boosting host immune functions might constitute a new approach for the treatment of MCC.
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