[Local cellular immune response induced by ultrasound-guided tumor bed superantigen injection after percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy for liver cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the local cellular immune response after injection of superantigen, the highly agglutinative staphylococin (HAS), into the tumor bed after ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT) in the liver cancer patients.


METHODS
Ninety-two patients with pathologically proven primary liver cancer were divided into two groups: 45 in group A were treated by PMCT alone and 47 in the group B by combined with ultrasound-guided percutaneous injection of highly agglutinative staphylococin (HAS). Before and after PMCT and HAS treatment, the patients underwent ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy from the tumor bed and the samples were examined by pathology and immunohistochemistry. The infiltration of CD3+, CD4+, CD57+ and CD68+ lymphocytes in treatment zone was compared between the two groups. Moreover, the infiltrating immunocytes were observed by transmission electron microscopy.


RESULTS
One week after HAS injection, the densities of CD3+, CD4+, CD57+ and CD68+ cells in the group B were 54.50 +/- 18.44, 38.14 +/- 12.44, 33.38 +/- 10.79 and 45.56 +/- 16.53, respectively. All the above mentioned parameters increased significantly in varying degrees compared with that before PMCT or HAS injection (P < 0.05). Four weeks after HAS injection, the density of CD3+, CD4+, CD57+ and CD68+ cells in the group B were 32.67 +/- 10.42, 23.43 +/- 6.99, 18.63 +/- 7.89 and 30.01 +/- 11.05, respectively, still significantly higher than those before PMCT (P < 0.05). Five weeks after PMCT and HAS injection, the densities of CD3+, CD4+, CD57+ and CD68+ cells in the group B were 54.50 +/- 18.44, 38.14 +/- 12.44, 33.38 +/- 10.79 and 45.56 +/- 16.53, versus 32.03 +/- 8.11, 15.67 +/- 8.32, 15.23 +/- 8.26 and 29.67 +/- 11.98 in the group A, respectively, still with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). A lot of lysosomes, endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria in the immune cells after injection of HAS were observed by transmission electron microscopy.


CONCLUSIONS
The local cellular immunity in liver cancer treatment area can be significantly improved by ultrasound-guided injection of highly agglutinative staphylococin after percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy.
Han
Xiu-jie
XJ
Department of Diagnostic Ultrasonography, Beijing Hospital, Beijing 100730, China.
Dong
Bao-wei
BW
Liang
Ping
P
Yu
Xiao-ling
XL
Yu
De-jiang
DJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology*; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000276:immunology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D018959:CD57 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018089:Superantigens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D018959:CD57 Antigens; D018089:Superantigens; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule