T-CELL RECEPTOR V-BETA REPERTOIRE OF TUMOR-INFILTRATING LYMPHOCYTES IN ORAL SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) are frequently infiltrated by tumo ur infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) which may demonstrate specific anti -tumour cytotoxicity. We have used a panel of family-specific primers in reverse-transcriptase (RT)-polymerase chain reactions (PCR) to dete rmine the TCR V beta repertoire of TILs in the primary and metastatic tumours in patients with OSCC. We observed a diverse and heterogeneous usage of the TCR V beta genes by TILs in the primary tumours, a scena rio not unlike normal oral mucosal lymphocytes. In one patient with a longstanding history of OSCC, the repertoire was restricted, Restricte d TCR V beta gene usage also occurred in TILs of metastatic tumours. W ithin individual patients, discrepancies of TCR V beta gene usage were also observed between TILs in the primary OSCC and those in metastati c lymph nodes. Work is ongoing to determine the clonality and function al significance of these TILs.