The role of dendritic cells mediated antitumor immunity in esophageal carcinoma / 中国癌症杂志

ABSTRACT

Purpose:To study the role of DCs in tumor infiltrating T lymphocytes activation of esophageal carcinomas.Methods:46 specimens of patients with esophageal carcinoma were used to investigate the DCs (CD1a), the subsets of tumor infiltrating T lymphoctyes (CD3,CD4,CD8, CD25) and costimulatory B7 using monoclonal antibodies by immunohistochemistry staining LSAB method and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR). Results:There was significant correlation between CD1a(+) DCs and CD3(+),CD4(+) T lymphocytes, but no marked correlation between CD1a(+) DCs and CD8(+), CD25(+) T lymphocytes. No specific B7 mRNA expression was found in all specimens. Conclusions:DCs may not activate T lymphocytes efficiently. B7 gene was expressed at low level or deficiency in esophageal carcinoma may be one of the important reasons of failure to activate lymphocytes and induce the immunosuppression.