ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze retrospectively the quantity and activation status of the tumor infiltrating cytotoxic lymphocytes in breast cancer and the draining lymph nodes, and its relation to the clinical pathological significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-four breast cancer samples with their corresponding axillary lymph nodes were histologically typed and staged. Cytotxic lymphocytes were analyzed by immunohistochemistry with the monoclonal antibodies against CD8, CD56, granzyme B and perforin.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The number of infiltrating CD8(+) T cells in the cancerous interstitial tissue were much higher than that in the tumor parenchyma. Compared with the metastatic tumor samples, the CD8(+) T cells were more intensive in the primary tumors (35.7 +/- 16.0 vs. 23.7 +/- 9.6). The tumor infiltrating CD8(+) T cells of patients with 5 years survivals were more than that of the dead cases in this follow-up series death (32.9 +/- 14.1 vs. 20.1 +/- 9.9). There was no significant difference of activated tumor infiltrating cytotoxic T cell analyzed by using the activation marker granzyme B(+) and there was also no significant correlation between the intensity of CD8(+), CD56(+) cells and the clinicopathological stages. However, percentages of the activated cytotoxic lymphocytes in Stage I groups were significantly higher than those in stage III and IV. Moreover, the number of perforin(+) cells was significantly less than that of granzyme B(+) cells, particularly in the cancerous tissue, indicating a dysfunctional status of tumor infiltrating cytotoxic lymphocytes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Activated cytotoxic lymphocytes may play a significant role against the tumor progression and is associated with a favorable prognosis to some extent. However, a putative dysfunctional status of cytotoxic lymphocytes at tumor site may compromise the host immunity against cancer.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Axilla , Breast Neoplasms , Metabolism , Pathology , CD56 Antigen , Metabolism , CD8 Antigens , Metabolism , Follow-Up Studies , Granzymes , Metabolism , Immunohistochemistry , Lymph Nodes , Metabolism , Pathology , Lymphatic Metastasis , Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating , Metabolism , Pathology , Neoplasm Staging , Perforin , Metabolism , Retrospective Studies , Survival Rate , T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic , Metabolism , PathologyABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To conduct a proteomic analysis of human colorectal carcinoma cell lines LS174T and SW480 by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The total proteins of human colorectal carcinoma cell lines LS174T and SW480 were separated with 2-DE using immobilized pH gradient strips and analyzed by MALDI-TOF-MS to obtain peptide mass fingerprints (PMFs). Proteins were identified by using Mascot software to search protein databases.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Good resolution 2-DE maps were obtained. Some proteins including immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (IgVH) and co-stimulatory molecule B7-1 were identified. IgVH and B7-1 were confirmed by electrospray ionization tandem spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) and immunocytochemistry.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There are IgVH and B7-1 expressions in human colorectal carcinoma cell lines LS174T and SW480. Results obtained will help to elucidate the mechanisms of tumor immune escape.</p>