Increased natural killer cells in fluids. A new, sensitive means of detecting carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Natural killer (NK) cells are cells of undefined lineage that are capable of lysing certain tumor cell lines in vitro. Determination of NK cell percent (NK%) in effusions by flow cytometry could aid in the detection of malignancies.


METHODS
Over a six-month period at the Houston Veterans Affairs Medical Center, fresh effusions were routinely processed for cytology, and a portion was submitted for lymphocyte immunophenotyping using the FACScan and a panel including CD16/CD56 for NK cells. Seventy fluids (42 pleural, 28 peritoneal) from 62 men were examined.


RESULTS
NK cell percents were markedly increased in 15 cases (29-68%, mean 45.5) and low in 55 (2-20%, mean 8). Fourteen of the 15 cases with increased NK% were positive for carcinoma (93%), while 54/55 cases with low ones were negative for carcinoma (98%). Mesotheliomas, lymphomas and leukemias had low NK%.


CONCLUSIONS
Using the Mann-Whitney U test, an increase in NK% predicts metastatic carcinoma with a P level of < .00001.
Green
L K
LK
Department of Pathology, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Griffin
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000556:secondary; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity