Identification and the Significance of Lymphocyte Subpopulation in Human Breast Cancer : An Immunoperoxidase Study with Anti-Human T and B Cell Sera

Twenty-nine patients with cancer of the breast were examined immunohistopathologically as to the responsiveness of the host against cancer cells. Subpopulations of the infiltrating lymphocytes in cancer tissues were identified by indirect immunoperoxidase technique with anti-human T and B cell sera. B cells were predominant and T cells were scarcely found in all benign mammary lesions. In contrast, T cells were predominant in mammary cancer tissues. Concerning the infiltrating patterns of the lymphocytes, T cells tended to contact with cancer cells or cancer cell nests closely, while B cells tended to cluster focally apart from cancer cells. T cell infiltration was scanty in Scirrhous carcinoma, whereas it was very strong in infiltrating papillotubular carcinoma which had a better prognosis. There was a significant reverse correlation between the intensity of the T cell infiltration and the clinical stages. T cell infiltration intensity was significantly stronger in patients without lymph node metastasis than in those with lymph node metastasis. These facts suggest the possibility that the infiltrating T cells in cancer tissues represent host resistance against cancer and that the intensity of the T cell infiltration correlates with the prognosis of the breast cancer patients