Abstract
Peripheral blood lymphocytes from primary lung cancer patients or lymphocyte donors were collected by a blood processor M-30 (Haemonetics Co. USA), labeled with 99m Tc 04- (pertecnetate), and inoculatated into the bronchial artery of the patients. One to twenty hours after inoculation, scintigraphy was performed by a Gammacamera (GCA-401-5; Toshiba).
As early as one hour after the inoculation, accumulation of 99m Tc-labeled lymphocytes in tumor and regional lymph nodes was observed. The affinity of autologus lymphocytes to tumor and lymph nodes was higher than that of allogeneic ones. When 99mTc-labeled red blood cells were inoculated into the bronchial artery of the same patients, accumulation of red blood cells in tumors and regional lymph nodes was absent, indicating the immunological mechanisms of accumulation by lymphocytes. From 1 hour to 20 hours after inoculation, the distribution of lymphocytes was stable except for the increased accumulation of lymphocytes in liver and spleen at 20 hours.
In conclusion, 99m Tc-labeled lymphocytes infused via the bronchial arteries of patients with primary lung cancer accumulated in primary tumors and regional lymph nodes. This lymphocyte-scintigraphy appeared to be valuable for diagnosis of pulmonary malignancies.
