Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Cytologic, phenotypic and morphometric analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the cytologic, phenotypic and morphometric features of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs).


METHODS
Morphology and cell size parameters of 50 TILs and five normal donor peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) specimens were compared using light microscopy, manual ocular measurements and digital image processing.


RESULTS
Cytologically, all TILs demonstrated similar morphologic findings regardless of the initial tumor type. Changes included large; eccentric nuclei, sometimes hyperlobated; clumped chromatin; and prominent nucleoli. The cytoplasm was abundant and basophilic. Mitotic figures were usually evident. In addition, TIL showed significant increases in cell size parameters as compared to PBLs.


CONCLUSIONS
The activated morphology of TILs resembles the appearance of high grade lymphoma. Several cell size parameters are increased; that may help to explain differences in previously reported trafficking patterns between TILs and peripheral blood lymphocytes.
Oliver
G
G
Cytopathology Section, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Yannelli
J
J
Solomon
D
D
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D002466:Cell Nucleolus / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002843:Chromatin / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008938:Mitosis; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D015703:Antigens, CD; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D002843:Chromatin