Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes as Biomarkers of Treatment Response and Long-Term Survival in Patients with Rectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

SIMPLE SUMMARY: This study investigated tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in pretherapeutic biopsies as biomarkers of treatment response and long-term prognosis in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. The results indicate that it is possible to identify a sub-group of patients with improved treatment response and long-term prognosis by assessing the density of CD8(+) TILs at the time of diagnosis. ABSTRACT: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) is indicated in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) to downstage tumors before surgery. Watchful waiting may be a treatment option to avoid surgery in patients, obtaining a complete clinical response. However, biomarkers predictive of treatment response and long-term prognosis are lacking. Here we investigated tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in pretherapeutic biopsies as predictive and prognostic biomarkers. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. In total, 429 articles were identified, of which 19 studies were included in the systematic review and 14 studies in the meta-analysis. Patients with high pretherapeutic CD8(+) TILs density had an increased likelihood of achieving a pathological complete response (RR = 2.71; 95% CI: 1.58–4.66) or a complete or near-complete pathological treatment response (RR = 1.86; 95% CI: 1.50–2.29). Furthermore, high CD8(+) TILs density was a favorable prognostic factor for disease-free survival (HR = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.38–0.86) and overall survival (HR = 0.43; 95% CI: 0.27–0.69). CD3(+), CD4(+), and FOXP3(+) TILs were not identified as predictive or prognostic biomarkers. Thus, assessing pretherapeutic CD8(+) TILs density may assist in identifying patients with increased sensitivity to NCRT and favorable long-term prognosis.