Transcriptomic study of bronchoalveolar lavage cells in the local environment of non-small cell lung cancer

Background: Lung-resident immune cells around local environment of non-small cell lung cancers implicate the balance of pro- and anti-tumor immunity; however the transcriptomic profiles of these cells remain poorly understood. Methods: Transcriptomic microarray study of lung-resident immune cells, harvested by bronchoalveolar lavage, was performed in the discovery group and the findings were validated in published microarray datasets and in an independent group by RT-qPCR Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed from the lung segment in which tumor located (n=13) and from the normal controls (n=6) to harvest lung-resident immune cells. All non-small cell lung cancer subjects were in advanced or metastatic stage without central airway invasion confirmed by bronchoscopic examination.