Ascitic fluid-associated lymphocytes in patients with metastatic ovarian cancer. Analysis of lymphocyte subsets and of phenotypical changes induced by "in vitro".

Ascitic fluid and peripheral blood samples, from seven patients affected by peritoneal carcinomatosis secondary to ovarian tumors, were analyzed to examine the phenotypic properties of ascitic fluid-associated lymphocytes (AFAL) and then asses T-cell activities in the presence of different interleukins. The AFALs showed a relative enrichment of CD2+, CD3+, CD5+, CD4+ T cells compared to the peripheral blood samples, while the contrary was true for CD56+ and CD57+ cells. The same phenomenon was observed in both CD3+, CD56+ and CD2+, CD56+ cell populations. Fewer CD71+ and CD25+ cells were found in the ascitic fluid suspensions whilst the opposite was true for HLA-DR+ lymphocytes. The data obtained from the in vitro incubation of AFALs in the presence of IL-1 (or), IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 or IFN showed that IL-1, IL-2 and IFN- can induce a two-fold increase in the percentages of HLA-DR+ T lymphocytes. IL-6, IL-2 and IL-1 seemed to have a fairly modest effect on CD25. A better survival of CD56+ cells was found only in the presence of IL-4 and IL-6. Even though preliminary and based on a limited number of patients, our results would seem to invite caution in instituting intraperitoneal administration of one or more cytokines for the treatment of such lesions in humans.