Abnormal Exacerbation of Moderately Differentiated Gastric Adenocarcinoma in a Patient with TAFRO Syndrome: An Impaired Tumor Immunity?

TAFRO syndrome is a relatively new disease entity first reported in 2010. We report a case of TAFRO syndrome accommodated by abnormal exacerbation of moderately differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma. The pathophysiology of TAFRO syndrome is largely unknown, but because the disease often responds to immunosuppressive therapy and also because T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are reported to be drastically decreased in TAFRO syndrome, involvement of a dysregulated immune system can be speculated. Growing evidence points toward a pivotal role of Tfh cells in tumor immunity through supporting ectopic lymphoid structures, which are recruitment sites for cells directly engaging in antitumor activity such as CD8⁺ T cells, NK cells, and macrophages. In fact, Tfh cells are reported to positively correlate with longer survival in human colorectal and breast cancer. Combined with our observations of hyperprogressive gastric cancer in the presented patient, an impaired tumor immunity is strongly indicated in TAFRO syndrome.