Characterisation of breast cancer infiltrates using monoclonal antibodies to human leucocyte antigens

An immunohistological study of leukocyte localization in benign and malignant breast tissue

Using morphometric and immunohistological techniques, we investigated the distribution of T lymphocytes and subsets, B lymphocytes, macrophages and plasma cells in sections of human breast tissue. In normal lobules and ducts, leukocytes were found in greater density in the epithelium than in the stroma. The intra-epithelial cells consisted largely of suppressor/cytotoxic T lymphocytes with a smaller number of macrophages; inducer T cells were seen in only 1 out of 10 subjects and were present in very low numbers. In the stroma, there were roughly equal numbers of suppressor/cytotoxic cells, macrophages and plasma cells containing IgA or IgM. Small numbers of stromal inducer lymphocytes were seen in only 2 cases. Although the density of suppressor/cytotoxic cells in the epithelium was considerably greater than in the stroma, macrophages were present in roughly similar density in both locations. In carcinoma, the ratio of epithelial to stromal leukocyte density was reversed, due to a marked reduction in intra-epithelial cells and to an increase in those in the stroma. Between 10% and 30% of lymphocytes expressed activation markers in contrast to the normal breast in which virtually all were negative. Inducer lymphocytes were identified in 9/10 carcinomas. The possible relationship of inducer cells to breast carcinoma and pre-neoplasia is discussed and warrants further investigation. No alteration in stromal plasma cell numbers was observed.

Expression of MHC products and leucocyte differentiation antigens in gynaecological neoplasms: an immunohistological analysis of the tumour cells and infiltrating leucocytes

Monoclonal antibodies directed against monomorphic determinants of Class I and Class II products of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and against leucocyte differentiation antigens were used in an indirect immunoperoxidase technique to compare their expression in normal and malignant disease of the ovary, cervix and endometrium. MHC Class I products, strongly expressed on normal ovarian epithelium, were uniformly absent from 7/8 ovarian carcinomas of varying histology. Lack of Class I expression was also a feature of 6/10 cervical carcinomas and of 4/8 endometrial carcinomas, in comparison with their respective normal tissues. Relative to normal tissue epithelium MHC Class II products, could be either lost or gained, the pattern of expression being either uniform or heterogeneous. Leucocytes were sparse in normal ovary but more numerous in cervix and endometrium. In tumours, with few exceptions, they were abundant, though usually confined to the stroma. T cells, largely of cytotoxic/suppressor (OKT8) phenotype, tended to predominate though in some tumours, particularly cervical carcinoma, large numbers of macrophages and to a lesser extent, B cells were sometimes detected. By contrast, leucocytes of natural killer (NK) phenotype were virtually non-existent in any tumour or normal tissue. The ingress of leucocytes into gynaecological neoplasms does not appear to be a random event and may be evoked by an immune response against tumour-associated antigens. However, the relationship between in situ mononuclear cell infiltration and MHC expression on epithelial tumour cells is complex and remains to be elucidated.

Mononuclear cells infiltrating human mammary carcinomas: immunohistochemical analysis with monoclonal antibodies

Breast carcinomas were examined by the immunoperoxidase technique using antisera specific for lymphocyte subsets, monocytes, NK cells and major histocompatibility antigens (HLA-A, -B, -C; Ia-like). Sixty-four per cent of the patients had a moderate or strong mononuclear cell infiltration, 77% of the patients without mononuclear cell infiltration had receptors for estrogens as compared to 51% of the patients with infiltration. The majority of the infiltrating mononuclear cells were T cells; generally the OKT8 cells were predominant. The Leu 3A/OKT8 cell ratio was not related to histological type, tumor size, age of the patient or presence of metastases. Some of the T cells had the Ia antigen and were thus probably activated. The B cells were either absent or less numerous than the T cells. There was no relation between their distribution and the various parameters studied. A few monocytes were heterogeneous according to their markers (OKM I and acid phosphatase). In 6 cases only there was a strong infiltration of mononuclear cells positive for acid phosphatase. The number of the natural killer cells was also low. Only a few mononuclear infiltrating cells had receptors for transferrin. There was a positive correlation between the inflammatory infiltration and the presence of HLA class-I antigens on tumor cells. Some of the antisera specific for lymphocyte subsets also stained the breast carcinoma cells. The great variations in the subsets of mononuclear cells in breast carcinomas may correspond to various systems of defense against neoplasm.

Infiltrating mononuclear cells in human breast carcinoma: predominance of T4+ monocytic cells in the tumor stroma

Frozen sections of 52 breast carcinomas were examined for the presence and nature of a leukocytic infiltrate. The number of "common leukocyte (T200-) antigen"-bearing cells was remarkably high in the stromal compartment of the carcinomas, whereas the tumor foci themselves were usually infiltrated only sparsely. Approximately 80% of these T200+ stromal cells carried the myelomonocyte lineage-associated antigens M-M522 and 63D3 and exhibited "non-specific esterase" activity. More than 2/3 of the stromal monocytic cells expressed the T4 antigen as verified by monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against different T4-associated epitopes. A T-cell analysis showed that T4+ cells clearly outweighed the total number of T cells as defined by anti-T3 and anti-TII antibodies. In addition, a correlation became apparent between the HLA-DR phenotype and the T lymphocyte content of tumor cell areas in the sense that densely infiltrated tumor areas were invariably HLA-DR+.

Distribution of histocompatibility and leucocyte differentiation antigens in normal human colon and in benign and malignant colonic neoplasms

Monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) directed against the framework determinants of Class I and Class II products of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and against leucocyte differentiation antigens were used in an indirect immunoperoxidase technique to study their expression in normal, benign (adenomatous polyps) and malignant disease of the colon. Class I products (detected by the McAb 2A1) were strongly expressed on all cell types in normal and benign tissues but some carcinomas exhibited a heterogenous pattern of epithelial cell staining and 4/15 were completely negative. Class II products (detected by TDR31.1) were strongly expressed on cells (mainly B lymphocytes) within the lamina propria. In carcinomas TDR31.1 staining was mainly interstitial, but in 2/15, DR + epithelial cells were also detected. In normal and benign tissues, leucocytes (reactive with 2D1) found predominantly in the lamina propria, comprised T cells mainly of the helper/inducer (OKT4) subset, DR + cells in approx. equivalent proportion and a few OKM1+ cells mostly of macrophage morphology. Occasional intraepithelial lymphocytes were of cytotoxic/suppressor (OKT8) phenotype. In malignant neoplasms, there was wide inter and intra-tumour variation in the proportion of leucocytes which were heterogeneous with respect to cell type and confined mainly to the stroma. T cells were consistently predominant, but B cells and macrophages were also present. Two neoplasms showed unequivocal evidence of a shift (relative to peripheral blood) in favour of the OKT8+ subset, but in the majority of tumours OKT4+; and OKT8+ cells were present in roughly similar proportions. Natural killer cells (monitored with Leu7, HNK1) were virtually undetectable in both normal and malignant tissues. There were no apparent correlations between the extent and type of leucocyte infiltration, tumour differentiation or expression of MHC products. Some implications for the extrapolation of in vitro data on leucocyte function to the in vivo situation are discussed.