EFFECT OF SURGERY ON PERIPHERAL-BLOOD LYMPHOCYTE LOCOMOTION THROUGH TYPE-I COLLAGEN

Background. Locomotion of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) through p eritumoral matrix is obligatory for tumor cell killing. The authors in vestigated the effect of surgery on lymphocyte locomotion and compared it with the effect on natural killer cell cytotoxicity (NKCC). Method s. PBL from 12 patients with cancer were assessed for locomotion in Ty pe I rat-tail collagen. Preoperative and postoperative locomotion (aft er 20 hours of incubation) and NKCC were estimated. Results. Locomotio n of lymphocytes through collagen increased significantly after operat ion in 6 of 12 patients, whereas only 1 of 12 had a decrease (P < 0.00 1). Short-term (20-hour incubation) exposure of the locomotory HSB cel l line to patient plasma samples did not affect their migration. NKCC, as estimated against K562 target cells with the use of the Cr-51-rele ase assay, decreased 5-50% after operation in 9 of 12 patients (P = 0. 006). No correlation could be demonstrated between the changes in loco motion and NKCC (regression analyses), nor were identifiable clinical factors associated with these changes. Conclusions. Locomotion of PBL through collagen increases after operation in patients with cancer, wh ereas possibly independent factors may decrease postoperative NKCC.