Intratumoural-infiltrating CD4 + and FOXP3 + T cells as strong positive predictive markers for the prognosis of resectable colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND: CD3 + and CD8 + T-cell infiltration were reported as positive predictive markers of survival in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Here, we demonstrate the prognostic significance of CD4 + and FOXP3 + T-cell densities in CRC. METHODS: We quantified the intratumoural densities of CD3 + , CD8 + , CD4 + and FOXP3 + T cells by immunohistochemistry and digital pathology in 342 CRC patients who underwent curative resection. Microsatellite instability was also assessed in 322 specimens. Patient demographics, clinicopathological features and survival rates were analysed. RESULTS: High CD3 + , CD4 + and FOXP3 + T-cell densities were associated with improved relapse-free survival (RFS); high CD8 + , CD4 + and FOXP3 + T-cell densities were associated with improved disease-specific survival (DSS). Patients with low CD4 + and low FOXP3 + T-cell densities exhibited extremely poor prognoses. T stage, vascular/lymphatic invasion and CD4 + T-cell density were independent prognostic indicators for DSS. The distributions of CD4 + and FOXP3 + T-cell densities were not significantly different between the high microsatellite instability group and other groups, in contrast to those of CD3 + and CD8 + T-cell densities. CONCLUSIONS: Intratumoural CD4 + T-cell density and combined CD4 + and FOXP3 + T-cell densities were stronger prognostic indicators than other clinicopathological features. These results may facilitate the establishment of novel prognostic factors and therapeutic strategies for CRC.