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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Evolution of the immune landscape during progression of pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms to invasive cancer

Matthias M. GaidaMatthias M. GaidaSusanne RothPromita BoseKatharina ZamzowMathias HeikenwalderChristoph W. MichalskiThilo HackertUlf HinzChristine Tjaden

subject

Male0301 basic medicineResearch paperendocrine system diseasesT cellPancreatic Intraductal Neoplasmslcsh:MedicineGeneral Biochemistry Genetics and Molecular BiologyMalignant transformation03 medical and health sciences0302 clinical medicineImmune systemStromaT-Lymphocyte SubsetsPancreatic cancerTumor MicroenvironmentPremalignant lesionHumansMedicineNeoplasm InvasivenessAgedTumour microenvironmentlcsh:R5-920Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasmIntraductal papillary mucinous neoplasmbusiness.industrylcsh:RCancerPancreatic cancerGeneral MedicineMiddle Agedmedicine.disease030104 developmental biologymedicine.anatomical_structure030220 oncology & carcinogenesisCancer researchTumour immunologyFemalelcsh:Medicine (General)businessCD8

description

ABSTRACT: Background: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) are precursor lesions of pancreatic cancer, which is characterized by an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Yet, the spatial distribution of the immune infiltrate and how it changes during IPMN progression is just beginning to be understood. Methods: We obtained tissue samples from patients who underwent pancreatic surgery for IPMN, and performed comprehensive immunohistochemical analyses to investigate the clinical significance, composition and spatial organization of the immune microenvironment during progression of IPMNs. Survival analysis of pancreatic cancer patients was stratified by tumour infiltrating immune cell subtypes. Findings: The immune microenvironment evolves from a diverse T cell mixture, comprising CD8+ T cells, Th/c1 and Th/c2 as major players combined with Th9, Th/c17, Th22, and Treg cells in low-grade IPMN, to a Treg dominated immunosuppressive state in invasive pancreatic cancer. Organized lymphoid clusters formed in IPMN surrounding stroma and accumulated immunosuppressive cell types during tumour progression. Survival of pancreatic cancer patients correlated with Th2 signatures in the tumour microenvironment. Interpretation: The major change with regards to T cell composition during IPMN progression occurs at the step of tissue invasion, indicating that malignant transformation only occurs when tumour immune surveillance is overcome. This suggests that novel immunotherapies that would boost spontaneous antitumor immunity at premalignant states could prevent pancreatic cancer development. Funding: The present work was supported by German Cancer Aid grants (70,112,720 and 70,113,167) to S. R., and the Olympia Morata Programme of the Medical Faculty of Heidelberg University to S. R. Keywords: Pancreatic cancer, Premalignant lesion, Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, Tumour microenvironment, Tumour immunology

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2020-04-01EBioMedicine
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.102714