DR antigen expression on ovarian carcinoma cells does not correlate with their capacity to elicit an autologous proliferative response.
Expression of HLA-DR antigens by purified preparations of human ovarian carcinoma cells freshly isolated from surgical specimens was examined in parallel with the capacity of tumor cells to elicit a blastogenic response from autologous lymphocytes in mixed lymphocyte-tumor culture (MLTC) assay. Of 21 tumor preparations, 11 (52%) reacted with monoclonal antibodies 279 and/or 949 specific for a monomorphic determinant of HLA-DR antigens, with heterogeneous positivity, ranging between 30% and 95%. In this series of patients positive MLTC occurred in 8/21 individual experiments. The HLA-DR expression was proportionally similar in tumors giving positive MLTC (4/8 = 50%) and negative MLTC (7/13 = 53%). The lack of correlation between DR expression on tumor cells and stimulatory activity in autologous MLTC and the fact that DR-negative tumors could induce lymphocyte stimulation, support the hypothesis that blastogenesis occurs upon recognition of tumor-associated antigens, different from DR molecules, possibly tumor-specific antigens.
Di Bello
M
M
Laboratory of Human Immunology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy.
Lucchini
V
V
Chiari
S
S
Colleoni
R
R
Colombo
N
N
Mantovani
A
A
Allavena
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000032:analysis / Q000473:pathology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D006681:HLA-D Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens