title: Correlation of apoptosis with the distribution and composition of lymphocytic infiltrate in human breast carcinomas.
abstract: We studied the lymphocytic infiltrate in human breast carcinomas and correlated its distribution and composition with the apoptotic index of cancerous cells. Paraffin sections from 36 human breast carcinomas with prominent lymphocytic infiltration were immunohistochemically stained with L26, UCHL1 and Leu-7 antibodies. Apoptotic index was expressed as the number of cells undergoing apoptosis per 20 HPF. The lymphocytic infiltrate was composed mainly of T-cells, usually peripherally but in 17 cases intratumorally distributed. T-cells, in contact with apoptotic cells, were observed in 11 cases. B-cells formed small aggregates at the periphery of the tumor. NK cells were present isolated in the infiltrate. No correlation was found between the type and distribution of the lymphocytic infiltrate and apoptotic index. The presence of intratumoral T-lymphocytes, occasionally observed in contact with apoptotic cells, may suggest that they could be partly associated with the apoptotic death of cancerous cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Theagenion Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Grekou
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Toliou
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stravoravdi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Patakiouta
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsoukalas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pinakidis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Keramidas
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013601:T-Lymphocytes