A histomorphological study of regional lymphnodes in carcinomas of breast, stomach and colon.
BACKGROUND
Immune response plays an important role in the interaction between malignant neoplasms and their host, which is reflected as histologic changes in the lymph nodes draining tumours.


METHODS
641 regional lymph nodes from 64 primary carcinomas of breast, stomach and colon were examined to assess such a response.


METHODS
The lymphnodes were classified into one of the following histological patterns--lymphocyte predominance (LP), germinal centre predominance (GCP), lymphocyte depletion (LD) and unstimulated (U).


RESULTS
LP (T Cell response) was the frequently observed pattern in the lymph nodes of breast and stomach. A similar pattern was observed among the survivors irrespective of the involvement of lymph node with tumour. There was a significant association between the histologic pattern of lymph node and stage & grade of the disease in breast carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
The correlation of lymph node histology with grade and extent of the disease & survival indicate that the immune system is important in regulating the growth of malignant neoplasms. Such information may help as prognostic indicator and as therapeutic guide for immunotherapy.
Britto
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C
Department of Pathology, St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences, St. Marthas Hospital, Bangalore, Karnataka.
Geethanjali
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S
Rameshkumar
K
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D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*