ASSOCIATION BETWEEN TUMOR-INFILTRATING CD8+ T LYMPHOCYTE DENSITY AND CLINICAL, IMAGING, AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL FEATURES IN PATIENTS WITH GLIOBLASTOMA
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Abstract
Objective: To analyze the association between tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T lymphocyte density and clinical, magnetic resonance imaging, and histopathological features in patients with glioblastoma.
Subjects and methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study of 42 glioblastoma patients with paraffin blocks and complete preoperative clinical and MRI data at Military Hospital 103 and Central Military Hospital 108 (1/2024–12/2025). CD8+ density was assessed by immunohistochemistry, counted in 5 hotspot areas under ×40 objective, and expressed as the mean number of cells per high-power field (HPF). Patients were classified into low and high CD8 groups by the median. Logistic regression was used to assess independent associations.
Results: Mean age was 57.8 ± 10.9 years; 61.9% were male. The median CD8+ density was 14.9 [10.9–20.8] cells/HPF. The group with necrosis ≥30% had a lower CD8+ density (11.4 vs 18.1; p=0.013), and the group with extensive peritumoral edema also had a lower density (p=0.006). After adjustment, necrosis ≥30% and extensive edema were both associated with lower odds of belonging to the high-CD8 group (aOR 0.19 and 0.18; p<0.05).
Conclusion: Extensive necrosis and peritumoral edema were associated with low tumor-infiltrating CD8+ density, suggesting a less favorable immune microenvironment in this subgroup.
Keywords
glioblastoma, CD8 T lymphocyte, tumor infiltration, necrosis, peritumoral edema
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References
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