Immunohistologic studies of squamous cell carcinoma: possible participation of Leu-7+ (natural killer) cells as antitumor effector cells.
Immunohistologic studies of 8 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were undertaken using a series of monoclonal antibodies. In all of the patients, over 70% of the dermal infiltrates reacted with OKT3 and OKIal (HLA-DR), with a slight predominance of the OKT8+ suppressor/cytotoxic T subset (the mean OKT4/OKT8 ratio was 0.85). Both OKT4+ and OKT8+ subsets could be seen in contact with individual cancer cells. The percentage of OKB7+ (B) cells was less than 29% of the dermal infiltrates. Some Leu-7+ cells (less than 9% of the infiltrates) were seen in close association with individual cancer cells and none of these cells was present apart from the cancer cells. Few OKT6+ cells were observed in the papillary dermis and these had no relation to cancer cells. In the epidermis, OKT6+ dendritic cells remained within normal proportions. Staining with OKM1 revealed sporadic reactive cells. These results strongly suggest that besides T and B lymphocytes, Leu-7+ (natural killer) cells participate in a significant defense mechanism against SCC proliferation.
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens