ON MONONUCLEAR-CELLS IN HUMAN ENDOMETRIAL CARCINOMA

The aim of this study was to evaluate the local immune reactivity in p atients with untreated endometrial carcinoma. The immune assay include d immunostaining of mononuclear cells in cryo- and/or paraffin section s in 19 untreated endometrial cancers and in 23 normal endometrial tis sues as controls. In several cases Ficolli preparations after mechanic al dispersion were successfully made with cytospin and/or cytofluorome tric study of the mononuclear cells. Throughout the normal menstrual c ycle as well as the postmenopausal, both T-lymphocytes and macrophages appeared in the stroma, in aggregates or diffusely scattered. B-cells were rare. During the secretory phase the highest cell number occurre d, especially T-helpers (CD4) were increased. Endometrial carcinomas h ad higher mean values of lymphocytes (CD3, CD4 and CD8) and IL-2 recep tor positive cells than normal endometrial controls. This increase of lymphocytes - and also macrophages - was related to the degree of mali gnancy C57 positive natural killer (NK) cells, however, were practical ly absent in the malignant tissue. This immunogenic activity was much stronger in endometrial cancer than that found in ovarian cancer.