IN SITU IDENTIFICATION OF INFLAMMATORY CELLS IN MALIGNANT, NON‐LYMPHOID HUMAN TUMOURS

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Inflammatory cells (including lymphocytes, plasma cells, macrophages, mast cells and PMN [polymorphonuclear leukocytes]) were identified and quantitated in sections from human carcinomas. Two types of cellular infiltrates are described. In the stroma surrounding the cancer tissue (peritumoral) and, to a lesser degree, within the malignant tissue (intratumoral), lymphocytes, plasma cells, macrophages and mast cells dominated; numerous PMN and aggregates of macrophages characterized central tumor necroses. The demonstration of T lymphocytes and macrophages in and around the cancer tissue suggests that a local immune reaction is initiated by the tumor; the consistent finding of IgG, IgA and IgM plasma cells at the borders of the carcinomas indicates that plasma cells are also part of an immune response at the tumor site. This is further supported by the demonstration of an increased proportion of IgG containing plasma cells in the stroma of colon tumors compared with normal mucosa.