Native and inducible levels of natural cytotoxicity in lymph nodes draining mammary carcinoma

Effect of sizofiran on regional lymph nodes in patients with head and neck cancer

The immunomodulating effects of preoperative sizofiran (SPG) administration on regional lymph nodes were studied in patients with stage III or IV head and neck cancer, by comparing the immunofunction of peripheral blood. The regional lymph nodes were dissected surgically, and freshly obtained mononuclear cells were studied to investigate the interleukin 2 (IL-2) production, the LAK and NK activities, and the quantitative analysis of the surface phenotype of the mononuclear cells. The results indicated that SPG enhanced immunological activities in the regional lymph nodes, as shown by increased IL-2 production and cytotoxic activities of the effector cells (NK, LAK), and increased helper T lymphocytes (CD4+) in the tumor-uninvolved lymph nodes. The immunofunction following SPG administration was attenuated, but was still augmented in the regional lymph nodes with metastases. Therefore, SPG was found to be a biologic response modifier to enhance the immunofunctions of the regional lymph node in patients with head and neck cancer.

An analysis of lymphocyte subsets in the regional lymph nodes of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma

Lymphocyte subsets in the lymph nodes regional to papillary thyroid carcinoma were determined using flow cytometry to ascertain the differences in local immunological responses between elderly and young patients. Lymph nodes from age-matched patients with benign thyroid tumors were used as controls. No significant alterations in lymphocyte subsets were observed in the lymph nodes from the young patients regardless of whether metastasis was present, whereas those from the elderly patients showed significant decreases in pan T cell (CD2+, CD3+) and cytotoxic T cell (CD8+, CD8+CD11b-) populations, and a significant increase in B cells (CD19+) compared with those from both the young patients and the age-matched controls. These results indicate that local immunological alterations occur in elderly patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma, and we believe that immunological changes are one of the clinical characteristics of this tumor.

Different immune functions of peripheral blood, regional lymph node, and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in lung cancer patients

Immune functions of peripheral blood (PBL), regional lymph node (RLNL), and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) were evaluated in lung cancer patients. PBL had many natural killer (NK) cells and the highest NK activity, and it showed the highest augmentation of NK activity by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) + recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) among the three groups of lymphocytes. PBL had high lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity of against a broad spectrum of cell lines and moderate activity against autologous tumor cells by increased effector to target (ET) ratio but the lowest ability of IL-2 production of the three groups of lymphocytes. The RLNL not associated with tumor metastasis had a few NK cells and lower NK activity than PBL, but its LAK activity was almost the same but not greater than that of PBL. RLNL had the highest ability of IL-2 production among the three groups of lymphocytes. All activities of RLNL associated with tumor metastasis were lower than those not associated with tumor metastasis. TIL exclusively consisted of T-cells, especially cytotoxic/suppressor T-lymphocytes. NK activity and lymphocyte blastogenesis of TIL were lower than those of other groups. The LAK activity of TIL differed greatly with the case, and it was the highest against autologous tumor cells among the three groups of lymphocytes in three of eight cases. These findings showed that PBL, RLNL, and TIL had characteristic subpopulations of lymphocytes and different functions of host immune responses in lung cancer. Efficient augmentation of the characteristic immune responses will lead to a more effective total cancer therapy.

Interleukin-2 induces cytotoxic activity in lymphocytes from regional axillary nodes of breast cancer patients

Natural killer (NK) cells and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells have been involved in immunosurveillance against tumors. A normal NK activity was observed in peripheral blood (PB) mononuclear cells (MNC) from women with breast cancer, but a very low or absent NK cytotoxicity was found in the regional lymph node (RLN) MNC. However, strong cytotoxic activity against NK-resistant and NK-sensitive target cells can be induced in RLN MNC by long-term (5-day) incubation with recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2). This cytotoxic inducer effect of rIL-2, not observed with recombinant interferon gamma, was dose and time-dependent and was not associated with modifications in the low number of Leu 11+ or Leu 7+ cells present in the population. Both the lack of NK activity and the generation of rIL-2-activated killer cells can be readily demonstrated in either histologically affected or unaffected RLN. These results stress the value of the immunomodulators inducing cytotoxic activity in RLN MNC of patients with tumors, and are discussed in association with their possible therapeutical role.

Natural cytotoxicity in draining lymph nodes of squamous cell cancer in the maxillofacial region

There is at present very little information available, including the presented preliminary data, concerning NK activity in patients with head and neck cancer. The objective of the present investigation was to study NK activity in peripheral blood (PB) and regional lymph nodes (LNs) in patients with different stages of head and neck cancer. Furthermore, phenotypic characterization of lymph node cells was performed. Finally, the in vitro response of mononuclear cells isolated from blood and lymph nodes to interferon was investigated.

Natural cytotoxicity of lymphocytes from lymph nodes draining breast carcinoma and its augmentation by interferon and OK432

Lymphocytes isolated from axillary lymph nodes draining breast carcinoma were tested for natural killer (NK) activity against K562 in a 4-h 51Cr-release assay, and the in vitro effects of interferon (IFN) and OK432 (a streptococcal preparation) on their cytotoxicity were examined in comparison with NK activity of autologous peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). The levels of NK activity were lower in lymph node lymphocytes (LNL) than in PBL of the same patients. Significant levels of LNL-mediated lysis were recorded in 14 of 42 (33%) lymph node samples and in nine of 14 (64%) patients. Purification of large granular lymphocytes (LGL) from lymph node cells by discontinuous Percoll density gradient centrifugation resulted in an induction or enhancement of cytotoxic activity, with no reactivity in LGL-depleted, small T-lymphocyte populations. Positive reactions were observed with 10 of 13 (77%) LGL samples. The low reactivity of LNL was not attributable to coexistent suppressor cells for NK function, since lymph node cells failed to suppress NK activity of normal PBL. Partially purified human IFN and OK432 augmented NK activity of patients' PBL in approximately 70% and 90% of the cases, respectively, while LNL-mediated lysis was augmented in only 7% and 36% of the lymph node samples by IFN and OK432, respectively. These results indicate that K562-reactive NK cells and/or their precursors may frequently be present at subthreshold levels in the lymph nodes draining breast carcinoma, and that the augmentation of LNL-mediated cytotoxicity by OK432 might provide a local potentiation of natural immune function at the host-tumor interface rather than IFN.