1988 Volume 79 Issue 1 Pages 115-121
Local immunocompetence was histochemically evaluated in bladder tumor patiensts after immunomodulators injection. Intratumoral injection of immunomodulators (such as OK432, rIL-2) was performed via cystoscope with an injection needle prior to surgical operation. After injection, marked infiltration of T cells, rather than B cells, was observed. The infiltration of T cells was conspicuous irrespective of tumor stages. There was no obvious difference in distribution pattern between OKT4 and OKT8 cells. In 2 cases having Su-PS negative to positive conversion after injection, the marked intiltration of tissue T lymphocytes was found. On the other hand, there was no obvious difference in peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) subsets before and after the injection.
NK cells were also scattered within tumor cells following OK432 injection. Concomitantly, the direct injection of immunomodulators into bladder tumors was capable of augmenting NK activity in PBL.
These findings suggest the role of tissue infiltrating lymphocytes against bladder tumors in local immunotheraphy. Further studies are required to elucidate host immune response in the microenvironment of cancer side, in addition to the systemic immune reaction.
