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High frequency of Treg cells associated with HCC

Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma had a larger number of regulatory T cells compared with controls, indicating an association between T-cell frequency and pathogenesis of cancer, according to study results.

Twenty-three studies were used in a meta-analysis to compare data from 547 controls with 1,279 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and determine if regulatory T cells (Tregs) played a role in the pathogenesis of HCC. Medline, Embase and Wanfang databases were used in the literature search, and studies with reports of Tregs among HCC patients were included.

The meta-analysis indicated that the frequency of Tregs in the HCC patients was 87% higher than in controls (OR=1.87; 95% CI, 1.49-2.34). In addition, Treg frequency in the tumor microenvironment was greater in the HCC patients (OR=4.04; 95% CI, 2.1-7.79) compared with tumor-surrounding tissue and biopsy specimens in controls (OR=2.869; 95% CI, 2.16-3.82).

Subgroup analyses performed due to the differences in tumors and patient characteristics showed that the frequency of Tregs among HCC patients did not change, regardless of variations in tumor size or number or alpha-fetoprotein levels (P>.05 for all).

“Available data suggest that there is a significant association between the high expression of Tregs and the development of HCC,” the researchers concluded. “Nevertheless, more well-designed clinical studies still need to be done to elucidate the exact relationship between Tregs and tumor development, and not only the frequency of Tregs either in the circulating or tumor microenvironment.”

Disclosure: Relevant financial disclosures were not provided by researchers.