In situ detection of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes expressing perforin and fas ligand genes in human HCC.
AIM:To investigate the expression of perforin and fas-ligand (fas-L) of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).METHODS:By in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, the perforin and fas-L gene expression of TILs was studied in 20 HCC cases.RESULTS: Positive expression of perforin and fas-L genes was detected in 16 HCC cases. One patient had expression of perforin and fas-L genes in the majority of TILs and survived 1.5 years after tumor resection without HCC relapse.This seems that the presence of a large number of activated T cells might be beneficial for the antitumor immunity. In other cases, less than 10% of TILs were able to express perforin and fas-L genes.CONCLUSION:Although there were a number of T cells in HCC, only few of them were immunoactive and able to kill tumor cells. It seems important to promote further proliferation of these activated T cells in vitro or in vivo.
Qian
Qi-Jun
QJ
Xue
Hui-Bin
HB
Qu
Zeng-Qiang
ZQ
Fang
Shi-Gang
SG
Cao
Hui-Fang
HF
Wu
Meng-Chao
MC