Local infiltration of T-lymphocyte subsets as a prognostic indicator in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
We studied tumor-host interactions in 47 patients with NPC. The local infiltration of T-lymphocyte subsets was investigated by an immunoperoxidase technique using monoclonal antibodies. Biopsy specimens of patients without cervical metastasis showed more T-lymphocyte (T11) infiltration. The amount of Leu-3a (helper/inducer) and T8 (cytotoxic/suppressor) cell infiltration did not correlate with the age, sex, clinical stage, and peripheral blood T4 and T8 cells of the patients. A higher incidence of Leu-3a cell infiltration was found in patients with high serum IgA antibody titers to EBV VCA. A trend of better prognosis was revealed in those cases with no or slight stromal T8 cell infiltration. A local immune response was found to exist which may prevent the spread of NPC to the cervical nodes, but this needs further study to evaluate the local infiltration of T-lymphocyte subsets as a prognostic indicator.
Hsu
M M
MM
Department of Otolaryngology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University Taipei, Republic of China.
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001706:Biopsy; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000032:analysis* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000032:analysis*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal