Clinicopathologic roles of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and CD8-positive lymphocytes in lung cancer imprint smears in squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.

Objective: To investigate the presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and CD8-positive lymphocytes (CD8s) in lung cancers and to examine the prognostic significance of their relationship with clinicopathologic parameters.

Study Design: Primary tumor imprint smears from 83 lung cancers were consecutively obtained at surgery at Tsuchiura Kyodo General Hospital between 1996 and 1998. TILs were observed in Papanicolaou-stained smears, and CD8s were immunocytochemically visualized.

Results: TILs were judged positive in 42 cases (51%), and 34 of 83 cases (41%) were positive for CD8s. There was no correlation between the frequency of TILs and CD8s. TILs assessed by Papanicolaou staining in 83 cases showed no correlation with any clinicopathologic factors. CD8s were observed more frequently in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) than other adenocarcinomas. A high frequency of CD8s was associated with lymph node metastasis (p = 0.043), stage (p = 0.025) and tumor differentiation (p = 0.03). TILs and CD8s made no significant difference in survival. However, in SCC the patients positive for TILs but negative for CD8s survived and had a significantly better prognosis than did the others (p = 0.037).

Conclusion: CD8s were associated with tumor progression and development of malignancy in lung cancers. Especially in SCC, the cases had a high frequency of TILs. A low number of CD8s may correlate with a favorable prognosis.