title: Cytotoxicity of activated natural killer cells and expression of adhesion molecules in small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is sensitive to anticancer agents, most patients with SCLC experience relapse and die within two years. Here, we examined the relationship between natural killer (NK) cells and adhesion molecules on SCLC cell lines.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression levels of HLA class I, β2-microglobulin, Fas/Apo-1 receptor (FAS) and adhesion molecules on SCLC cell lines were examined by flow cytometry. The cytotoxicity of activated NK cells from SCLC patients was examined using (51)Cr-release assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HLA class I antigen and β2-microglobulin expression levels in SCLC cell lines were lower than those in healthy volunteers. SCLC cell lines were susceptible to lysis by activated NK cells but this showed no correlation with expression levels of adhesion molecules.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Target cell susceptibility to activated NK cells from five SCLC patients correlated with survival benefit; target cell susceptibility to activated NK cells may be a surrogate marker of outcome for patients with SCLC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita-ku, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuchida
authors.forename: Hiromichi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamane
authors.forename: Nobuaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ochi
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tabayashi
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hiraki
authors.forename: Naoyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nogami
authors.forename: Nagio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takigawa
authors.forename: Katsuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kiura
authors.forename: Mitsune
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanimoto
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000276:immunology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules