Table 2.
Cells of the Adaptive Immune System and Association With Colorectal Cancer
| Cell type | Role in CRC pathogenesis | Reference no. |
|---|---|---|
| CD3+ memory T cells (CD4+, CD8+, CD45RO) | Prognostic value of type, density, and location of cells | 24 |
| Gene expression pattern associated with Th1 cells in tumors and higher numbers of CD8+ T cells are associated with better patient outcomes (such as fewer metastases) | 70 | |
| Immunoscore: Numbers of Th1 cells in tumors, effector memory T cells, and cytotoxic T cells correlate with better outcomes of patients with CRC and longer survival times of patients with metastatic CRC | 71 | |
| CD8+Foxp3+ T cells | Number of intratumor CD8+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells (Treg) correlate with the stage and the micro-invasive status of CRC | 72 |
| CD3+Foxp3+ T cells | Density of Foxp3+T cells in lymphoid follicles in normal mucosa might reduce survival times | 33 |
| Number of Foxp3+ T cells in CRC associates with increased survival times of patients with mismatch repair–proficient, but not mismatch repair– deficient, CRC | 32 | |
| Low ratio of intraepithelial CD3+ T cells to Foxp3+ T cells associates with poor outcomes | 73 | |
| Higher numbers of Treg in tumors, lower numbers of IL17-producing cells, associated with reduced metastasis | 74 | |
| CD3+CD8+ T cells | CD3+ and CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes might increase survival times, but effects are confounded by CRC stage | 75 |
| Cytotoxic T lymphocytes, Th cells (Th1, Th2, Th17, Treg) | Th17 cell gene expression pattern in CRCs associated with poor outcomes Th1 cell and cytotoxicity expression pattern in CRCs associate with better outcomes |
29 |
| T follicular helper (Tfh) cells | Intratumor density of Tfh increased with tumor progression | 25 |
| Gene polymorphisms of Th17 cells (IL17A, IL17F, IL23 receptor) | Polymorphisms in genes expressed by Th17 cells associate with susceptibility to CRC and poor outcomes | 36–38 |
| Th17 and γδT17 cells | Detection of IL17+ T cells in human CRC specimens Most colorectal tumors contain Th17 and γδT17 cells | 16, 31, 39 |
NOTE. Data were selected from publications on the adaptive intra-tumor immune response.