We found that by using the new IASLC/ATS/ERS classification, histologic subtypes of pathologic stage IA lung adenocarcinoma with prognostic value could be identified. Tumor invasiveness of lung adenocarcinoma as defined by this classification can be predicted by evaluating the ground-glass opacity ratio, tumor disappearance rate, and consolidation diameter on thin-section computed tomography.

No abstract

Cytokines produced by tumor cells may have various effects on antitumor immune responses and tumor growth. In the present study, the cytokine production of 31 lung cancer cell lines was evaluated, while any correlation with the histological type, the induction of tumor‐specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in vitro, and angiogenesis and the infiltration of inflammatory cells in tumor tissues were also examined. Production of interleukin (IL)‐1α, IL‐1β, IL‐4, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM‐CSF), granulocyte colony stimulating factor, transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the culture supernatant was measured using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Each cytokine was produced in a substantial number of the tumor cell lines. In particular, IL‐6, IL‐8, TGF‐β and VEGF were produced in 18 (55%), 29 (94%), 31 (100%) and 28 (90%) of 31 cell lines, respectively. However, neither IL‐4 nor TNF‐α was produced at all by any tumor cell line. TGF‐β production was significantly higher in adenocarcinoma than in squamous cell carcinoma (P = 0.03). Immunohistochemical staining revealed the magnitude of macrophage infiltration, and angiogenesis in surgically resected tumor tissue specimens correlated well with GM‐CSF and IL‐8 production from the corresponding cell lines. Among six lung cancer cell lines, CTL were induced in the three lung cancer cell lines that produced a lower amount of TGF‐β (<100 pg/mL). These findings suggested that TGF‐β produced by tumor cells could inhibit the induction of CTL in vitro. The present results suggest that the production of various cytokines from tumor cells might exert various paracrine effects both in vivo and in vitro. (Cancer Sci 2007; 98: 1048–1054)

No abstract

Both cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cells may

No abstract

No abstract

The aim of the present study was to elucidate the tumor‐specific cellular immunological responses occurring in a patient with large cell carcinoma of the lung who had no evidence of recurrence following surgical resections of both a primary lung lesion and a metastatic adrenal lesion. We analyzed an autologous tumor‐specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL clone F2b), which were HLA‐A*2402 restricted from regional lymph node lymphocytes. The F2b possessed T cell receptor (TCR) using the Vα5 and Vβ7 gene segment. The existence of precursor CTL (pCTL) against autologous tumor cells (A904L) was analyzed using CTL clone‐specific PCR. Lymphocytes with the same TCR as F2b were detected in the primary tumor tissue, regional lymph node and the peripheral blood collected from the patient 3 years after the operation. Using the F2b, we identified a cDNA clone encoding the tumor antigen using cDNA expression cloning method. The gene was found to encode splicing variant of the Tara gene. Finally, we identified the 9‐mer Ag peptide, using constructions of mini‐genes. The F2b recognized 3 out of 7 HLA‐A24 positive allogeneic tumor cell lines and in 1 out of 7 HLA‐A24 negative allogeneic tumor cell lines when transfected with HLA‐A24. This peptide is therefore considered to be potentially useful for performing specific immunotherapy in a significant proportion of lung cancer patients bearing HLA‐A24. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.