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High numbers of tumour‐infiltrating activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and frequent loss of HLA class I and II expression, are features of aggressive B cell lymphomas of the brain and testis
Author(s) -
Riemersma Sietske A,
Oudejans Joost J,
Vonk Marcel J,
Dreef Enno J,
Prins Frans A,
Jansen Patty M,
Vermeer Maarten H,
Blok Paul,
Kibbelaar Robbie E,
Muris Jettie JF,
Schuuring Ed MD,
Kluin Philip M
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.1783
Subject(s) - cytotoxic t cell , lymphoma , biology , ctl* , human leukocyte antigen , immune system , t cell , pathology , immunology , antigen , cancer research , cd8 , medicine , biochemistry , in vitro
Loss of both HLA class I and class II expression in B cell lymphomas is a mechanism of escape from a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) immune response and will therefore give a strong selective survival advantage in tumours expressing strong immunogenic antigens. We investigated loss of HLA expression using specific antibodies on tissue sections from 254 B cell lymphomas originating from nodal and different extranodal sites in relation to numbers of tumour‐infiltrating T cells. Complete loss of HLA class I and II was observed in a minority of the nodal, stomach, and skin lymphomas but in the majority of the lymphomas originating from the testis and the CNS. Interestingly, relatively high percentages of activated CTLs were detected in both primary testicular and CNS lymphomas compared to lymphomas at other sites, with highest percentages in the testis ( p < 0.0001). We conclude that loss of both HLA class I and II expression occurs very frequently in lymphomas originating from the testis and the CNS as compared to nodal and some other extranodal sites. The presence of high percentages of activated CTLs in the testicular and CNS lymphomas suggests that loss of HLA expression provides a strong growth advantage for lymphoma cells in these immune‐privileged sites. Copyright © 2005 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.