Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes Assessed Using the International Tumor-infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs) Working Group System Are Not Prognostic in Medullary Thyroid Cancer
Authors' conclusion
In our study, the prognostic value of TILs in MTC was limited. Even high-grade MTC can be considered an immune quiescent tumor, and the adverse prognostic factors associated with higher grade tumors outweigh the marginal increase in immune recognition associated with a slight increase in TILs.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with primary medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) treated surgically 1995–2016, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia
- Participants
- 71 patients
- Exposure
- Very low vs low TILs
- Outcome
- Increasing TILs and outcomes (Cox regression)
- Follow-up
- Median (IQR) 69 (90) months
Methodological detailssingle-centre
- Single-centre
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
median (IQR) follow-up 69 (90) months
Low vs Very lowOdds ratio (CI)P value
Local recurrence; log-rank p = 0.022
1.94(0.61–6.16)
P = 0.26Reduced disease-specific survival; log-rank p = 0.015
5.11(1.01–26.0)
P = 0.049- All patients with MTC had low TILs, median (range)
- 3% (0-10%)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Association of high International Medullary Thyroid Cancer Grading System (IMTCGS) grade with increased TILs
- High IMTCGS grade, OR (CI); only prognostic factor significantly associated with increased TILs
- 7.29 (1.21-43.90), p = 0.015
Multivariable logistic regression
- No significant association between TILs and local recurrence or disease-specific survival
Original publication
Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes Assessed Using the International TILs Working Group System Are Not Prognostic in Medullary Thyroid Cancer. Thyroid. Published 27 January 2025. doi:10.
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