HUMAN STOMACH CARCINOMA-SPECIFIC T-CELLS DERIVED FROM THE TUMOR-DRAINING LYMPH-NODES

In this paper we investigate the reactivity pattern of T cells from st omach carcinoma patients against autologous tumour cells. T cells obta ined from the tumour environment, tumour-draining lymph nodes and peri pheral blood were cloned in 78 patients with stomach cancer and anti-t umour cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) precursor frequencies were assess ed in each sample by using limiting dilution analysis. When tumour-spe cific CTLs were tested for specific T-cell killing by using only low d oses of Interleukin 2 (100 U ml(-1)), a moderate rate of proliferation frequency of T cells (0.047) and specific cytotoxicity (12%) were obs erved in lymph node populations. When both IL-2 and autologous tumour cells in mixed lymphocyte tumour cultures (MLTCs) were used for stimul ation, a dramatic increase in number (0.1) and in specific lytic activ ity (46%) could be measured. No effect or specific activity to tumour cells was observed with peripheral blood lymphocytes and tumour-infilt rating lymphocytes.