[In situ analysis of distribution of immunocompetent cells in tumor's local draining lymph nodes].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the distribution of immunocompetent cells (ICCs) in tumor's local draining lymph nodes (LDLN) at different stages of disease including non-metastasis, micro-metastasis and late metastasis.


METHODS
71 LDLN from 22 breast cancer, 28 LDLN from 7 gastric carcinoma were analysed by using catalyzed signal amplification (CSA) immunohistochemical staining. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to perforin, granzyme B, CD8, CD56, CD68, S-100, CD134 and CD25 were used to detect the amount and functional change of ICCs.


RESULTS
Paracortical hyperplasia and sinus histocytosis was mainly observed in tumor's LDLN. As it was reported, the density of S100(+) dendritic cells (DCs) was decreased as the draining lymph nodes became tumor-containing from the status of tumor free (P<0.05), and the morphology of DCs turned to be inactivated. As the lymph nodes were invaded by tumors, the densities of CD134(+) lymphocytes and CD25(+) cells were significantly increased (P<0.01). Furthermore, there was a significant trend of decreasing in the number of activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes (granzyme B(+) cells) in LDLN as tumor progressed from non/micro-metastasis, early metastasis to advanced stage metastasis (P<0.01). There was no obvious difference in distribution of ICC between non/micro-metastasis sentinel lymph nodes and non-sentinel lymph nodes.


CONCLUSIONS
The dynamic change of the ICCs in LDLN implied that immune response of tumor bearing host tends to be inhibited with the progress of tumors.
Chen
Xiao-Li
XL
The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Education Ministry, Institute for Cancer Research, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China. chxl64@yahoo.com.cn
He
Jian-Jun
JJ
Chen
Kan
K
Lai
Bao-Chang
BC
Si
Lü-Sheng
LS
Wang
Yi-Li
YL
D002452:Cell Count; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D004322:Drainage; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000276:immunology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology