Accumulation of distinct T cell clonotypes in human solid tumors

Abstract

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) have been described in a variety of human solid tumors. It is unknown whether such T cells are nonspecific inflammatory cells or a subset of specific host immune responses. To examine this question, we have analyzed the clonotypes of TCR beta-chain messages expressed in TIL, draining lymph nodes, and PBL of 10 patients with uterine or ovarian tumors. We report here that TIL bears distinct T cell clonotype accumulations only in patients without obvious metastasis. In contrast, accumulations of clonally expanded T cells were also found in lymph nodes and PBL of patients with metastatic cancer. The numbers and locations of the accumulated T cell clonotypes seemed to correlate with the stage of tumor invasion and the degree of metastasis. These data support the existence of Ag-driven immune responses to solid tumors in vivo.