Possible host resistance in carcinoma of the breast: a histological study

Summary.-Axillary lymph nodes draining mammary carcinoma showed an alteration of both micro-architecture and lymphocyte subpopulations. Lymph nodes with a normal or increased T and/or B lymphocyte compartment (assessed by histology) had a low incidence of nodal tumour spread, whilst hypocellularity of the T-or Blymphocyte-dependent areas was associated with a significant increase in metastatic invasion. Tumour-draining lymph nodes, in particular the more proximal ones, were often enlarged, spherical and tense due to an increased cellular content, predominantly B lymphocytes and their various subsets. The increased number and percentage of B lymphocytes was associated with follicular hyperplasia and prominent germinal centres. Lymph nodes with a prominent paracortex tended to have a higher ratio of T to B lymphocytes than nodes with a hypocellular paracortical area, but in many instances both the T-and B-lymphocyte-dependent areas were increased. There was no correlation between a particular axillary-node lymphocyte subpopulation pattern (assessed by surface markers) and the size, degree of necrosis, inflammatory infiltrate or histologic type of breast carcinoma, or the presence of metastatic node invasion.

Section: Tumour Histologysupporting

confidence: 81%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Human regional tumour lymph nodes: alterations of micro-architecture and lymphocyte subpopulations

Eremin¹,

Roberts²,

Plumb³

et al. 1980

“…Similarly, antigens associated with transformation to the malignant state may be expressed (Laurence and Neville, 1972) and choriocarcinoma is neither more nor less likely than other tumours to have such antigens. It is interesting that similar cellular infiltrates to those seen in choriocarcinoma have also been described in other tumours, for example, in carcinoma of the stomach (Black, Opler and Speer, 1954), carcinoma of the breast (Berg, 1962;Black, Opler and Speer, 1956;Hamlin, 1968), malignant melanoma (Cochran, 1969) and neuroblastoma (Lauder and Aherne, 1972). Thirdly, since choriocarcinoma is a malignant allograft (Dowling, 1957;Hirsch, 1962) it may also exhibit individual-specific or transplantation antigens, inherited from the male parent of the antecedent conception.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

Cellular Reaction in Trophoblastic Tumours

Elston¹,

Bagshawe²

1973

Summary.-The presence of a mononuclear cell reaction to 41 gestational choriocarcinomata, 10 invasive moles and 13 malignant trophoblastic teratomata has been investigated. The intensity of the reaction was graded; there was a significantly better response to therapy and survival rate in those with a " severe " cellular reaction than in those with a " mild " reaction to gestational choriocarcinoma. The pathological and clinical features of invasive moles showed no relationship with the cellular reaction to the tumour. The cellular reaction to trophoblastic teratomata was generally poor but there was a marked cellular reaction to the tumour of one patient who has enjoyed a sustained remission.The relationship of cellular reaction and response to treatment with other histological and clinical features was examined. With the exception of a positive correlation between the degree of vascular invasion and response to treatment, none was found.It is suggested that an infiltrate of mononuclear cells in gestational choriocarcinoma is probably a response to the presence of tumour antigens. The infiltrate favourably affects the response to chemotherapeutic agents, suggesting that it contributes to tumour cell death and it may be interpreted as an immunological response directed at tumour rejection.

“…This tissue cellular response may represent the morphological features of a host defence mechanism similar to that seen in other human tumours such as breast cancer (Hamlin, 1968;Bloom, Richardson and Field, 1970), neuroblastoma (Martin and Beckwith, 1968), seminoma (Dayan, 1966), and stomach cancer (Black, Opler and Speer, 1956). Levy, Mahaley and Day (1972) have reported that patients with glioblastomata and other intracranial neoplasms possessed peripheral blood lymphocytes which were specifically cytotoxic to cultured autologous tumour cells in vitro.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 83%

Glioblastoma Multiforme: A Controlled Trial to Assess the Value of Specific Active Immunotherapy in Patients Treated by Radical Surgery and Radiotherapy

Bloom¹,

Peckham²,

Richardson³

et al. 1973

109

Summary.-The results are reported of a randomized prospective clinical trial carried out to assess the value of specific active immunotherapy using irradiated autologous tumour cells in patients with glioblastoma multiforme treated by radical surgery and post-operative irradiation. The results in 62 patients show no statistically significant difference in survival between the group receiving adjuvant autologous tumour cells and those treated with surgery and radiotherapy alone. All 27 patients receiving tumour cells were dead at 30 months, whereas 7 of the 35 controls were alive at this time. The results were considered sufficiently discouraging to abandon the trial at this stage on the grounds that there was sufficient evidence in this study that the administration of irradiated autologous cells was of no benefit to patients with high grade astrocytomata.