[Analysis of immunological response of regional lymph node lymphocytes from patients with gastric cancer after endoscopic local injection of biological response modifier (BRM)].

Local injection of BRM (OK-432 or Lentinan) around the cancer lesions via endoscope was performed on 66 gastric cancer patients preoperatively, and the regional lymph node lymphocytes in the surgical specimens were examined on T-cell subset, production of IL-2, and responsiveness to IL-2. The results were as follows: 1) In the metastatic lymph nodes, proportions of T-lymphocyte subsets, production of IL-2 and responsiveness to IL-2 did not change after local administration of OK-432 or Lentinan. 2) In the non-metastatic lymph nodes, percentage of CD4+4B4+ cells were significantly increased and production of IL-2 was markedly augmented after local injection of OK-432. On the other hand, percentage of CD8+CD11- cells were significantly increased and production of IL-2 was markedly enhanced after the local injection of Lentinan. These data suggested that the antitumor response of the non-metastatic lymph node lymphocytes was augmented after the local injection of OK-432 or Lentinan.