The prognostic relevance of tumour-infiltrating plasma cells and immunoglobulin kappa C indicates an important role of the humoral immune response in non-small cell lung cancer.

Lohr M, Edlund K, Botling J, Hammad S, Hellwig B, Othman A, Berglund A, Lambe M, Holmberg L, Ekman S, Bergqvist M, Pontén F, Cadenas C, Marchan R, Hengstler JG, Rahnenführer J, Micke P

Cancer Lett. 333 (2) 222-228 [2013-06-10; online 2013-02-02]

A prognostic impact of immunoglobulin kappa C (IGKC) expression has been described in cancer. We analysed the influence of B-cell and plasma cell markers, as well as IGKC expression, in non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) using immunohistochemistry on a tissue microarray. IGKC protein expression was independently associated with longer survival, with particular impact in the adenocarcinoma subgroup. Moreover, a correlation was seen with CD138+ cells, but not with CD20. CD138 expression revealed a comparable association with survival. In conclusion, IGKC expression in stroma-infiltrating plasma cells is a prognostic marker in NSCLC, supporting emerging treatment concepts that exploit the humoral immune response.

Tissue Profiling

PubMed 23370224

DOI 10.1016/j.canlet.2013.01.036

Crossref 10.1016/j.canlet.2013.01.036

pii: S0304-3835(13)00080-3


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