Cytotoxic CD8+ T cells and tissue resident memory cells in colorectal cancer based on microsatellite instability and BRAF status.

Background: Recent studies in non-colorectal malignancy have associated T resident memory (T) cells with improved patient survival. It is unknown if T plays a role in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Aim: To examine the potential role of T cells in providing immunogenicity in CRC stratified by microsatellite instability (MSI) and BRAF status.

Methods: Patients with known MSI and BRAF mutation status were eligible for inclusion in this study. CRC tumour sections stained with haematoxylin and eosin were microscopically reviewed and the images scanned prior to assessment for location of invading edge and core of tumour. Sequential sections were prepared for quantitative multiplex immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining. Opal Multiplex IHC staining was performed with appropriate positive and negative controls and imaged using a standard fluorescent microscope fitted with a spectral scanning camera (Mantra) in conjunction with Mantra snap software. Images were unmixed and annotated in inForm 2.2.0. Statistical analysis was performed using Graphpad Prism Version 7 and Stata Version 15.

Results: Seventy-two patients with known MSI and BRAF status were included in the study. All patients were assessed for MSI by IHC and high resolution capillary electrophoresis testing and 44 of these patients successfully underwent quantitative multiplex IHC staining. Overall, there was a statistically significant increase in CD8+ T cells in the MSI (BRAF mutant and wild type) group over the microsatellite stable (MSS) group. There was a statistically significant difference in CD8+ T between high level MSI (MSI-H):BRAF mutant [22.57, 95% confidence interval (CI): 14.31-30.84] MSS [8.031 (95%CI: 4.698-11.36)], = 0.0076 andMSI-H:BRAF wild type [16.18 (95%CI: 10.44-21.93)] MSS [8.031 (95%CI: 4.698-11.36)], = 0.0279. There was no statistically significant difference in CD8 T cells (both CD8+CD103- and CD8+CD103+T) between MSI-H: BRAF mutant and wild type CRC.

Conclusion: This study has shown that CD8+ T are found in greater abundance in MSI-H CRC, both BRAF mutant and MSI-H:BRAF wild type, when compared with their MSS counterpart. CD8+ T may play a role in the immunogenicity in MSI-H CRC (BRAF mutant and BRAF wild type). Further studies should focus on the potential immunogenic qualities of T cells and investigate potential immunotherapeutic approaches to improve treatment and survival associated with CRC.