Distribution of T- and B-cells and of immunoglobulin-producing cells in tumor tissue of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Abstract

Various subtypes of 17 European nasopharyngeal carcinomas are examined by immunocytological and immunohistological methods. The T- and B-Cells in the inflammatory infiltrate are determined quantitatively and correlated with the amount and type of intracellular immunoglobulin. This data is compared with peripheral T-Cell values and the serum anti Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) titers, and finally with the tumor type and stage. Three of the 17 patients had marked local immunoglobulin producing cells, 8 only moderate, and 6 had nearly none. The intracellular immunoglobulin was primarily IgG/kappa, and no significant increase of IgA producing cells was observed as suggested by others. No clearcut correlation was found between local T- and B-Cell infiltrates and the tumor type, stage of disease, or anti EBV titers in the patients' serum. The possible implication of this data is discussed.