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Relation between natural killer cells and neoplastic cells in serous fluids
Author(s) -
Laurini Javier A.,
Garcia Alejandro,
Elsner Boris,
Bellotti Marta,
Rescia Carla
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
diagnostic cytopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.417
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1097-0339
pISSN - 8755-1039
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0339(200006)22:6<347::aid-dc4>3.0.co;2-t
Subject(s) - serous fluid , medicine , pathology , immunophenotyping , peritoneal fluid , natural killer cell , adenocarcinoma , flow cytometry , in vitro , immunology , biology , cytotoxicity , cancer , biochemistry
Natural killer (NK) cells are capable of lysing certain tumor cells in vitro. We investigated whether the percentage of NK cells (NK%) in serous effusions has any relation with the presence of malignant cells. Fresh effusions were routinely processed, and a portion of them was submitted for lymphocyte immunophenotyping, using a flow cytometer. Fifty‐one fluids (15 peritoneal, 36 pleural), from 47 patients were analyzed. Thirty‐two cases were negative and 19 were positive for neoplastic cells: there were 13 adenocarcinomas, 2 malignant mesotheliomas (MM), 3 malignant lymphomas (ML), and 1 rhabdomyosarcoma (R). Negative cases showed an average NK% of 5.09% (1–16%). Effusions positive for adenocarcinoma had an average NK% of 22.08% (12–33%) ( P < 0.001). MM, ML, and R had a low NK%, with an average of 3.01% (0–5%). Investigation of the NK% could be useful in cytologically doubtful cases and in the differential diagnosis between MM and adenocarcinoma. Diagn. Cytopathol. 22:347–350, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.