Tumor-Infiltrating Immune Cells and PD-L1 as Prognostic Biomarkers in Primary Esophageal Small Cell Carcinoma

Figure 3

CD4⁺ TILs colocalize with PD-L1⁺ cells and contribute to poor survival. (a) Representative multi-IF images showing a sample with more CD4⁺ TILs than CD8⁺ TILs in the stroma. Scale bar, 100 μm. (b) Representative multi-IF images showing a sample with more CD8⁺ TILs than CD4⁺ TILs in the stroma. Scale bar, 100 μm. (c) A pie chart was plotted according to IHC staining results showing 84% of patients have more CD4⁺ TILs than CD8⁺ TILs in the stroma. (d) Representative multi-IF images showing a sample with PD-L1⁺ cells colocalizing more with CD4⁺ TILs than with CD8⁺ TILs in the stroma. Scale bar, 100 μm. (e) The Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showing patients with elevated levels of CD4⁺ TILs (red line, ) have poor OS, compared to patients with low levels of CD4⁺ TILs (blue line, ). (f) The Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showing patients with a low CD8/CD4 ratio (blue line, ) have poor OS, compared to patients with a high CD8/CD4 ratio (red line, ).

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