B. Ostenstad et al., LIMITED HETEROGENEITY IN THE T-CELL RECEPTOR V-GENE USAGE IN LYMPHOCYTES INFILTRATING HUMAN COLORECTAL TUMORS, British Journal of Cancer, 69(6), 1994, pp. 1078-1082
The presence of T lymphocytes in solid tumours may reflect an ongoing
immune response against the transformed cells. We have used polymerase
chain reaction (PCR) technology to investigate the T-cell receptor va
riable-region gene (V-gene) usage in freshly isolated tumour-infiltrat
ing lymphocytes (TILs) to look for a possible oligoclonality of T cell
s in the tumour area. We used 19 different V beta-family-specific prim
ers. Peripheral blood lymphocytes and lamina propria lymphocytes from
the same patients were also tested by PCR. Our results demonstrate a l
imited heterogeneity in the V-gene usage of TILs from seven patients w
ith colorectal cancers, suggesting a local antigen-driven immune respo
nse at the tumour site.