T-CELL RECEPTOR V-ALPHA GENE-EXPRESSION OF INFILTRATING T-CELLS IN PANCREATIC-CANCER

Background: T lymphocytes play a central role in the immune response t o cancer, with specific T-cell reactivity provided by the T-cell recep tor (TCR) alpha beta-chain heterodimer. Whereas human pancreatic adeno carcinoma is characterized by a massive infiltration of T lymphocytes, to date no analysis of the TCR V alpha-gene expression of the tumor-i nfiltrating lymphocytes in pancreatic cancer has been performed. Metho ds: Using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) fol lowed by dot blot hybridization, we determined the TCR alpha-chain rep ertoire at the mRNA level in pancreatic carcinoma and compared our fin dings with the TCR V alpha repertoire in the normal pancreas and chron ic pancreatitis. Results: A heterogeneous lowly restricted TCR V alpha repertoire was observed in pancreatic carcinomas, different from the TCR V alpha repertoire in chronic pancreatitis. Conclusions: Pancreas- infiltrating T cells show a distinct TCR V alpha gene expression profi le in normal pancreas, chronic pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer.