The role of lymph node size and FOXP3+ regulatory T cells in node-negative colon cancer.

Recently, we demonstrated that the intratumoural density of CD3+ and CD8+ T cells is independently prognostic and associated with lymph node (LN) harvest and LN size in node-negative colon cancer. We assumed that FOXP3+ T cells (Tregs) could be inversely associated with these LN features. Therefore, we performed a retrospective immunohistochemical analysis using an already well-characterised collection of stage I/II colon cancer cases.

Number of Intratumoral T Lymphocytes Is Associated With Lymph Node Size, Lymph Node Harvest, and Outcome in Node-Negative Colon Cancer.

Objectives: We postulated that lymph node (LN) harvest and LN size are influenced by immunologic effects.

Methods: To investigate this hypothesis, we performed a retrospective analysis of 170 node-negative colon cancer cases to evaluate the density of intratumoral T lymphocytes (ITLs). CD3- and CD8-positive T cells were counted using a digital system.

Clinical Significance of International Union Against Cancer pN Staging and Lymph Node Ratio in Node-Positive Colorectal Cancer after Advanced Lymph Node Dissection.

Background: Lymph node retrieval in colorectal cancer can be improved by using advanced histopathological techniques like methylene blue-assisted lymph node dissection, which results in a doubling or even tripling of the lymph node count in comparison with conventional lymph node dissection techniques. However, it is not clear whether the established lymph node staging systems are suitable for predicting patients' prognoses under these circumstances.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether the current lymph node staging systems are suitable when advanced dissection methods are used.

Galectin-3 and Cyclin D3 Immunohistochemistry and Tumor Dimensions Are Useful in Distinguishing Follicular Oncocytic Carcinomas from Oncocytic Adenomas of the Thyroid.

Aims. Oncocytic (Hurthle) follicular cell tumors (OTs) of the thyroid are both adenomas (OAs) and follicular carcinomas (OCs). The routine diagnosis of these tumors can be problematic even after an accurate sampling and histological examination.

Lymph node size as a simple prognostic factor in node negative colon cancer and an alternative thesis to stage migration.

Background: Stage migration is an accepted explanation for the association between lymph node (LN) yield and outcome in colon cancer. To investigate whether the alternative thesis of immune response is more likely, we performed a retrospective study.

Methods: We enrolled 239 cases of node negative cancers, which were categorized according to the number of LNs with diameters larger than 5 mm (LN5) into the groups LN5-very low (0 to 1 LN5), LN5-low (2 to 5 LN5), and LN5-high (≥6 LN5).