Tertiary Lymphoid Structures and Cancer Prognosis (Brief Review)

Abstract

This brief review is devoted to the role of tertiary lymphoid structures in oncological processes. A number of research studies carried out over the past ten years have shed light on the functions of such structures in various diseases, as well as their role in the progression of the pathological process or resolution of a disease. The data presented in some research works confirms the relationship between the presence of tumour-specific (tumour-associated) tertiary lymphoid structures and a favourable prognosis in patients with various oncological diseases, which suggests the participation of tertiary lymphoid structures in effective local antitumour immune responses. However, no reliable evidence has so far been obtained that could confirm the contribution of tertiary lymphoid structures to immune processes in vivo, with the available information being largely of a correlative character. It should be emphasized that the clinical significance of tertiary lymphoid structures ranges from a destructive to protective impact, which indicates the need for an improved understanding of the structure and case-specific function of these organs before conducting clinical targeting.