title: Spontaneous apoptosis of tumor-specific tetramer+ CD8+ T lymphocytes in the peripheral circulation of patients with head and neck cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In cancer, tumor escape from the host immune system includes apoptosis of circulating CD3(+)CD8(+) effector T lymphocytes. Here, we compare sensitivity to apoptosis of virus- with tumor-specific circulating CD8(+) T cells in patients with head and neck cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wild-type p53 peptide-specific (p53(264-272) and p53(149-157)) and viral peptide-specific (EBV BMLF(259-267) and CMVpp65(495-503)) tetramers were used to measure the frequency of reactive T cells by flow cytometry. Annexin V (ANX) binding to circulating 7-amino-actinomycin D-negative but tetramer(+)CD8(+) T cells in PBMC obtained from 21 patients with head and neck cancer and 11 normal controls (NC) was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients with head and neck cancer, a higher percentage of tetramer(+)CD8(+) than tetramer(-)CD8(+) T cells bound ANX (p < .023-.005). Although most tumor-epitope(+)CD8(+) T cells bound ANX, lower percentages of virus-specific CD8(+) T cells were ANX(+) in the same patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preferential demise of circulating tumor-specific CD8(+) T cells and their paucity in head and neck cancer contribute to tumor escape.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Charite-Universitatsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Albers
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Visus
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gooding
authors.forename: Albert B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: DeLeo
authors.forename: Theresa L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Whiteside
mesh_terms: D017304:Annexin A5 / Q000378:metabolism*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D017304:Annexin A5; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor