Presence of activated t-cells with a T8⁺ M1⁺ leu 7⁺ surface phenotype in invaded lymph nodes from patients with solid tumors

The lymphocyte surface phenotype of lymph nodes from patients with larynx or urinary bladder carcinoma was investigated by using a panel of monoclonal antibodies. The phenotype pattern of lymphocytes from lymph nodes invaded by malignant cells (as assessed by histopathology) was different from that of the cells from noninvaded or normal control nodes. Although the proportion of natural killer cells or macrophages was similar in the 3 groups of lymph nodes, invaded lymph nodes contained a higher proportion of T -cells and a lower B-cell percentage. Furthermore, cells from invaded nodes comprised 15-20% of T3⁺ T8⁺ cells that coexpressed the M1 marker and, to some extent, also the Leu 7 marker. A large proportion of cells with multiple markers were activated, as shown by the expression of Tac and HLA-OR antigens. In 2 patients activated T8⁺ cells expressing also M1 and Leu 7 markers infiltrated the tumor site. The presence of these activated cells both in involved nodes and tumor mass may indicate that they originate in response to cancer.