PROLIFERATIVE RESPONSE OF PERIPHERAL-BLOO D AND DRAINING LYMPH-NODE LYMPHOCYTES TO UNSPECIFIC AND SPECIFIC STIMULATION IN BREAST-CANCER PATIENTS

Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and lymphocytes from tumor draining lymph nodes (LNL) from breast cancer patients were isolated and evalu ated for in vitro immunological function. The test system used was a p roliferative assay; stimulation was done either by mitogens (PHA, con A, pokeweed), autologous tumor extract (TE = hypotone membrane fractio n) or TE + interleukin-2 (IL-2). Lymphocyte phenotype was specified in most cases. The results refer to 49 patients between 28 and 79 years (median 56 years). Tumors examined were mainly of stages TI-2. 36 pati ents had neoplasms less-than-or-equal-to 3 cm maximal diameter and in 36 cases less than 3 lymph nodes were affected. PBL from all patients were stimulated by mitogens, whereas this was only the case for 81 % o f LNL from level 1 (axilla) and for 75 % of LNL from level 2 (under pe ctoralis major and minor muscles). In 16 %, 19 %, and 15 % of the pati ents a specific proliferative response to tumor antigen was observed f or PBL, LNL 1, and LNL 2, respectively. A specific suppression of the proliferative response under the same conditions could be demonstrated in 16 % (PBL), 17 % (LNL 1), and 15 % (LNL 2) of the patients. Freque ncy of specific proliferative response of peripheral blood lymphocytes is comparable to that of tumor draining lymph node lymphocytes. No si gnificant phenotypic difference of subpopulations of lymphocytes from peripheral blood and draining lymph nodes was shown.