Inflammatory cells infiltrate and angiogenesis in locally advanced and metastatic cholangiocarcinoma

Abstract

In locally advanced CCA patients, there is a significant increase of immune cell infiltrate constituted by CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ lymphocytes, macrophages and mast cells as compared to the metastatic ones. This alteration in the tumour microenvironment infiltrate is related to a significant increased MVD in localized CCA lesions compared with the metastatic ones. Moreover, we observed a negative correlation between MVD and CD8⁺ , CD4⁺ cells in localized CCA patients.