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Immunologic competence of regional lymph nodes in patients with breast cancer
Author(s) -
Ellis R. J.,
Wernick G.,
Zabriskie J. B.,
Goldman L. I.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197503)35:3<655::aid-cncr2820350318>3.0.co;2-m
Subject(s) - medicine , lymph , lymph node , breast cancer , lymphocyte , population , immune system , immunology , sensitization , antigen , cancer , pathology , environmental health
In 24 patients undergoing radical mastectomy, the degree of sensitization to breast cancer was compared between lymphocytes obtained from regional lymph nodes and circulating lymphocytes. Using the direct lymphocyte migration inhibition assay a greater immunologic response was observed in regional lymph node lymphocytes as compared to circulating lymphocytes when challenged with breast cancer antigen in vitro. In the breast cancer group, migration inhibition (M.I.) was 21% ± 3% in the regional lymph node (R.L.N.) lymphocytes, as compared to 7% ± 3% in the peripheral blood (P.B.) lymphocytes (p < .01). In the control group M.I. was −10% ± 2% in the R.L.N. lymphocytes, as compared to −2% ± 3% in the P.B. lymphocytes (p = n.s.) indicating no immunologic response to the breast cancer antigen. A significant delayed hypersensitivity response (M.I. > 20%) was found in 17/24 regional lymph nodes of the radical mastectomy group, as compared to 7/24 in the peripheral blood samples tested in the same group, indicating a superior immune response in the regional lymph node lymphocyte population. These data support the concept that regional lymph nodes in breast cancer patients are immunologically competent, and that the lymphocytes in these nodes are more reactive with a tumor antigen than are the circulating lymphocytes.