부산대학교 도서관

Introduction: Inducible co-stimulator (ICOS), an important co-stimulatory receptor on effector T cells (Teffs), may also contribute to tumor growth due to its high expression on regulatory T cells (Tregs). This study explored the clinical significance of ICOS-expressing Tregs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Tumor tissues from HCC patients who received curative hepatectomy were obtained at a referral center. Dual immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate the expression of ICOS and Foxp3. The cell densities and proximities between stained cells in regions of interest were measured by digital pathology and the associations with clinical outcome were analyzed. Results: A total of 142 patients (male:female = 112: 30, median age of 61.0 years) were enrolled. Among them, 87 (61.3%) had chronic hepatitis B virus infection and 33 (23.2%) had chronic hepatitis C infection. Low [alpha]-fetoprotein level ( Keywords: Liver cancer, Foxp3, Co-stimulatory receptor, Tumor microenvironment, Immunotherapy, Immune checkpoint
Author(s): Li-Chun Lu (corresponding author) [a,b,c]; Cecilia Deantonio [d]; Cintia C. Palu [d]; Yi-Hsuan Lee [e]; Laura S. Mitchell [d]; Marianne Cowan [f]; Matthew Corser [f]; Lorcan Sherry [f]; Ann-Lii [...]