title: Identification of T and B lymphocytes in human breast cancer with immunohistochemical techniques.
abstract: Cryostat sections of 50 breast cancer specimens and several lymphoid organs were investigated with antisera against human T-lymphocyte antigen, human lymphocytes, and human immunoglobulins using the immunofluorescence technique and the immunoperoxidase technique. These methods proved to make it possible to discriminate between T and B cells in lymphocytic infiltrates in tissue sections. In nearly all mammary carcinomas studied, T cells were found to predominate in and around tumor cell nests. Only the intraductal carcinomas of this series contained a substantial number of B cells in addition to T cells. The presence of T cells indicates that the host-tumor interaction in vivo mall-mediated immune reaction. The role of the B cells found in the lymphocytic infiltrates of the intraductal carcinomas is still a matter of speculation. Moreover, these findings enhance the value of established histologic classifications. These classifications may have to be modified to provide them with a more functional basis.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D005453:Fluorescence; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D007106:Immune Sera; D007136:Immunoglobulins