Evaluating peripheral myeloid-derived suppressor cells as factor for the diagnosis and treatment efficiency of patients with colorectal cancer.

person Cong Zhou Department of Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China info_outline Cong Zhou, Lina He, Yi Gu, Bisheng Shi, Xiaojiao Cheng, Ruohan Zhangyuan, Yuguang Shen, Wei Shen, Zheng Wang, Shuiping Tu

Authors person Cong Zhou Department of Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China info_outline Cong Zhou, Lina He, Yi Gu, Bisheng Shi, Xiaojiao Cheng, Ruohan Zhangyuan, Yuguang Shen, Wei Shen, Zheng Wang, Shuiping Tu Organizations Department of Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China, Laboratory Medicine Department, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China Abstract Disclosures Research Funding Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology Foundation Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world. As the main immunosuppressive cells in tumor microenvironment (TME), the diagnostic value of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in periphery of CRC patients and their treatment-related clinical significance are still ambiguous. Methods: Here, blood samples and clinical information were collected from 210 CRC patients and 102 healthy individuals. The frequencies of MDSCs were detected by flow cytometry. Immune-related cytokines were detected by Cytometric Beads Array. Paired blood samples before and after treatment were collected from another 175 CRC patients to assess the effect of therapeutic regimens on MDSCs. Results: Compared with healthy individuals, the proportions of total MDSCs (1.34 vs. 9.20, p < 0.0001), monocyte-MDSCs (Mo-MDSCs) (0.13 vs. 0.60, p < 0.0001) and polymorphonuclear-MDSCs (PMN-MDSCs) (0.87 vs. 7.32, p < 0.0001) were increased, while early-MDSCs (eMDSCs) were decreased (0.02 vs. 0.01, p < 0.0001). The sensitivity, specificity, and AUC of total MDSCs for CRC diagnosis were 80.5%, 90.2% and 0.90. The sensitivity, specificity, and AUC of total MDSCs combined with CEA were 89.5%, 89.0%, and 0.94, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that peripheral MDSCs were significantly correlated with leukocytes (r = 0.24~0.37), immune-related cytokines [especially IL-2 (r = 0.25~0.27), IL-5 (r = 0.26), IL-6 (r = 0.22~0.44), IL-8 (r = 0.18~0.32)], and biomarkers of gastrointestinal tumors (r = 0.24~0.41). Additionally, first-line chemotherapy FOLFOX and XELOX, or chemotherapy plus targeted therapy can effectively reduce total MDSCs (13.30 vs. 2.81, p < 0.001; 15.09 vs. 3.31, p < 0.001) and PMN-MDSCs (13.21 vs. 2.14, p < 0.001; 13.78 vs. 2.22, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study disclosed that peripheral MDSCs have important diagnostic value and clinical significance for CRC.