Abstract
The mixed lymphocyte tumor cell culture reaction (MLTR) using autochthonous peripheral and lymph node lymphocytes was performed on 21 patients with esophageal cancer. Ten of 16 cases (62%) in peripheral lymphocytes and 9 of 16 cases (56%) in the lymph node lymphocytes showed positive reaction. There was no correlation between stimulation index (SI) and the degree of lymph node metastasis which is one of the determinants of clinical stage (Guide Lines for the Clinical and Pathologic Studies on Carcinoma of the Esophagus, 1976). Many cases showed positive reaction in MLTR even if their tumors were at advanced stage. SI of MLTR on the patients who died of a relapse in a short time within one year after operation was found to be low levels. There was no remarkable correlation between MLTR and PPD skin reaction. The results of MLTR were compared with histologic differentiation grades of tumor tissues; intraepithelial spread, vascular invasion, sinus histiocytosis of the regional lymph nodes, and follicular hyperplasia of the regional lymph nodes. There was a minor correlation between the results of MLTR and sinus histiocytosis of the regional lymph nodes.
