Expression of dendritic cells in ovarian tumors correlates with clinical outcome in patients with ovarian cancer

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen-presenting cells and are thought to reflect the interaction between the host immune system and tumor cells. In a retrospective study, we analyzed the presence of DCs and memor y lymphocytes in tumor biopsy specimens of 18 patients with ovarian cancer. These patients were followed up for 10 to 37 months. Within this period, 9 patients had no evidence of disease (NED, group A), and 9 patients had rec urrence (group B). In group A, 5 cases were stage III, 1 was stage 1, and I was stage II. In group B, 5 cases were stage III, 1 was stage III-IV, and 3 were stage IV. Our results show that the mean number of cells expressing the DC phenotype, HLA-DR+ CD1a(+), in tumor biopsies was substantially high er in group A than in group B (HIA-DR+: 37.8 +/- 18.2 v 10.7 +/- 2.2, respe ctively; P <.005; CD1a(+): 9.5 <plus/minus> 11.3 v 2.1 +/- 3.7). On the oth er hand, the number of cells expressing the DC phenotype S-100 protein was substantially lower in group A than in group B (S-100(+): 9.7 +/- 9.9 v 16. 2 +/- 12.7), although the difference was not statistically significant. The re was no difference in the number of tumor-infiltrating CD45RO(+) cells be tween groups A and B (CD45RO(+): 39.1 +/- 28.5 v 34.2 +/- 19.1). Our result s show that the presence of relatively high numbers of defined DC subpopula tions may have prognostic value in ovarian tumors. HUM PATHOL 32: 803-807. (C) 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.