Expression of CD4, CD8 Biomarkers in Invasive Carcinoma of Breast with Clinicopathological Correlation

Introduction: Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are widely considered a key sign of the immune interaction between host and tumor, and potentially prognostic biomarkers of good or bad outcome in various cancers, including invasive breast cancer (IBC).

Aim and Objectives: To correlate the expression of CD4, CD8 T-lymphocytes in invasive carcinoma breast with established markers of prognosis like tumour size, grade, lymph node status and molecular subtypes mainly ER, PR, Her 2Neu, Ki67 status, mainly the triple negative breast cancers(TNBC).

Methodology: 58 Invasive breast carcinoma proven tissue blocks were subjected to immunohistochemistry and morphometric analysis for positive CD4, CD8 T-lymphocytes were done.

Results: Triple negative breast cancer subtype shows high TILs than other pathologic subtypes. Tumor interface CD8+ cells very well correlated with the pathological higher nodal stage. Majority CD4, CD8 positive cells were populated more towards the stromal and interface of the tumor microenvironment rather thatintratumoral.

Conclusion: CD4+ and CD8+ counts may be a valuable independent prognostic tool in predicting the outcome in invasive breast cancer.