HIGH-FREQUENCY OF CANCER-PATIENTS WITH ABNORMAL ASSEMBLY OF THE T-CELL RECEPTOR CD3 COMPLEX IN PERIPHERAL-BLOOD T-LYMPHOCYTES

Structural abnormality of T cell receptor (TCR)-CD3 complex on the cel l surface was investigated in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from 55 cancer patients. In 24 of the 68 tests done on these patients, the CD3 zeta chain was not detected by immunoprecipitation with anti-CD3 e psilon monoclonal antibody (mAb), but was observed with anti-CD3 zeta mAb, suggesting that a high frequency of cancer patients possesses abn ormal T cell receptor (TCR) complex in PBL. On the other hand, the tot al zeta chain was missing in several advanced cases. During follow-up of several patients, the zeta chain became undetectable after two or t hree months of cancer progression. It appears that immunosuppressive s tatus can be monitored by analyzing the TCR-CD3 complex on the cell su rface of PBL.