The prognostic relevance of tumour-infiltrating plasma cells and immunoglobulin kappa C indicates an important role of the humoral immune response in non-small cell lung cancer

Cancer Lett. 2013 Jun 10;333(2):222-8. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2013.01.036. Epub 2013 Jan 28.

Abstract

A prognostic impact of immunoglobulin kappa C (IGKC) expression has been described in cancer. We analysed the influence of B-cell and plasma cell markers, as well as IGKC expression, in non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) using immunohistochemistry on a tissue microarray. IGKC protein expression was independently associated with longer survival, with particular impact in the adenocarcinoma subgroup. Moreover, a correlation was seen with CD138+ cells, but not with CD20. CD138 expression revealed a comparable association with survival. In conclusion, IGKC expression in stroma-infiltrating plasma cells is a prognostic marker in NSCLC, supporting emerging treatment concepts that exploit the humoral immune response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antigens, CD20 / metabolism
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / immunology*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / mortality*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Humoral
  • Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / genetics*
  • Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Lung Neoplasms / mortality*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Plasma Cells / immunology
  • Plasma Cells / metabolism
  • Plasma Cells / pathology
  • Prognosis
  • Stromal Cells / immunology
  • Syndecan-1 / metabolism
  • Tissue Array Analysis

Substances

  • Antigens, CD20
  • Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains
  • SDC1 protein, human
  • Syndecan-1