Quantitative changes of functionally diff erent CD8 h CD57 + T-cell subsets in the peripheral blood of advanced renal cell carcinoma or high-risk melanoma patients

Correspondence to: Marius Strioga, Laboratory of Immunology, Institute of Oncology, Vilnius University, P. Baublio 3B, LT-08660, Vilnius, Lithuania. E-mail: marius.strioga@vuoi.lt Introduction. CD8hCD57+ T-cell subpopulation and its functionally diff erent subsets play an important role in antitumour immunity. Th e relation of competitive subsets may infl uence the overall eff ect of CD8hCD57+ T-cell mediated antitumour immunity and determine an individual response to antitumour immunotherapy. Th e aim of this study was to evaluate the proportion of cytotoxic, immunomodulating and immunosuppressive subsets of the CD8hCD57+ T-cell subpopulation in the peripheral blood of cancer patients and agematched healthy controls. Materials and methods. We studied the expression of biomarkers representing the cytotoxic (perforin), immunosuppressive (FOXP3, NKG2A) and immunomodulating (IFNγ) properties of CD8+CD57+ T cells in the peripheral blood of 49 cancer patients: 30 with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (age median 58, range 43–81), 19 with high risk cutaneous melanoma (age median 68, range 45–86) and 26 controls (age median 55, range 41–81) by multicolour fl ow cytometry. Results. Th e percentage of immunosuppressive CD8hCD57+FOXP3+ T-cell subset in CD8hCD57+ T-cell population varied. It was absent in 65% of controls, while only 23% and 26% of such patients were observed in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and melanoma groups, respectively. Even 40% of RCC and 37% of melanoma patients had a high percentage of CD8hCD57+FOXP3+ T-cell subset, while in the control group we found no such subjects. Th e cytotoxic CD8hCD57+Perforin+ T-cell subset was signifi cantly increased in RCC patients, but showed no relevant rise in melanoma patients, whereas the immunomodulating CD8hCD57+IFNγ+ subset was signifi cantly increased in melanoma patients but showed no relevant rise in RCC patients when compared to controls. Conclusions. Th e amount of various functionally diff erent subsets in CD8hCD57+ T-cell subpopulation varies greatly among cancer patients. Th ese diff erences may infl uence the overall CD8hCD57+ T-cell mediated antitumour immune response and determine an individual response to antitumour immunotherapy.