The analysis of mononuclear cell infiltrations in colorectal adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Mononuclear cell (MNC) populations in tissue specimens from 11 colorectal adenocarcinomas and 1 mucinous adenocarcinoma were analyzed, applying different monoclonal antibodies (MoAB). Tumor epithelium could be characterized by MoAB VEP9, predominantly binding to mucus secreted by the tumor cells. In approximately 30%-50%, the tumor epithelium also reacted in a patchy pattern with the MoABs OKT10 and OKIa, which define in the peripheral blood activated and HLA-DR expressing cells. T-lymphocytes, as defined by the MoAB 9.6, and T-lymphocyte subpopulations, as characterized by the MoABs OKT4 and OKT8, were found in the intratumoral stroma and in peritumoral inflammatory areas. Quantifying the relative amounts of mononuclear cell subpopulations in the different stroma compartments, a predominance of OKT10- and OKIa-defined and MoAB-S39-reactive cells was observed. NK cells, as labelled by the MoAB Leu-7, were only demonstrated singularly in different areas of the stroma. Nonlymphoid structures such as vessel walls were shown to express antigens recognized by the MoABs OKIa, OKT10, and Leu-7. In some instances, nerve structures were labelled by the MoABs OKIa, OKT10, S39, and Leu-7. Using semiquantitative analysis, no correlation could be obtained between the intratumoral and peritumoral infiltration with T-lymphocytes, T-lymphocyte subpopulations and monocytic cells, and histopathological tumor grading and staging.

Infiltration of mononuclear inflammatory cells into primary colorectal carcinomas: an immunohistological analysis

“…As shown in this study and by others (Svennevig et al, 1982;Svennevig et al, 1984;Allen and Hogg, 1985;Koch et al, 1985;Umpleby et al, 1985), the infiltration of mononuclear cells, as found in almost all tumours, was generally restricted to the stromal areas with fairly few cells infiltrating between tumour cells. This indicates chemotactic activity causing inflammatory cells to leave the blood vessels, but the migration of inflammatory cells close to tumour cells is inhibited.…”

“…The presence of CD4+ and CD8+ tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes in colorectal cancer has varied in different studies (Csiba et al, 1984;Lennard et al, 1984;Allen and Hogg, 1985;Koch et al, 1985;Umpleby et al, 1985;Ebert et al, 1989). The conflicting results might to some extent be explained by the complex situation in these tumours, in which cytotoxic and immunosuppressor activities are present simultaneously (for further discussion see below).…”

“…Eighty per cent of the lymphocytes expressed T cell characteristics, 17% B cell characteristics and 6% were null cells (Ebert et al, 1989). The ratio between helper/inducer cells (CD4+) and cytotoxic/suppressor cells (CD8+ in colorectal cancers has varied considerably in different studies (Csiba et al, 1984;Lennard et al, 1984;Allen and Hogg, 1985;Koch et al, 1985;Umpleby et al, 1985;Ebert et al, 1989).…”

“…These cells were mainly located to the stroma and not close to tumour cells (Svennevig et al, 1982;Allen and Hogg, 1985;Koch et al, 1985;Umpleby et al, 1985). Eighty per cent of the lymphocytes expressed T cell characteristics, 17% B cell characteristics and 6% were null cells (Ebert et al, 1989).…”

“…Natural killer cells (NK cells) were either not found or were present in low numbers (Kornstein et al, 1983;Watanabe et al, 1983;Csiba et al, 1984;Koch et al, 1985;Ebert et al, 1989). This is compatible with a depressed NK activity of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes prepared from colon carcinoma compared with the activity found in autologous blood T cells from these patients (Bland et al, 1981;Vose et al, 1981).…”