[A clinical study of immunological status in gastric cancer patients--with special reference to T-cell subsets in the lymphocytes of regional lymph nodes].

Non-metastatic regional lymph node lymphocytes of 41 patients with gastric cancer were studied by using different monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry. Used monoclonal antibodies were OKT3 (total T; CD3), OKT4 (helper/inducer T; CD4), OKT8 (suppressor/cytotoxic T; CD8) and Leu11 (NK/K cell; CD16). The results were as follows: 1. The percentage of CD3 cells and CD4 cells were about ten point fewer in lymph nodes than in peripheral blood. 2. CD8 cells were found to be one half or one third lesser in lymph nodes than in peripheral blood. 3. CD16 cells were found to be rare in lymph nodes. 4. The percentage of CD3, CD4 and CD8 cells were higher in distal lymph nodes than proximal ones. 5. The percentage of CD3, CD4 and CD8 cells were not different with progression of the cancer, whereas CD3 cells and CD8 cells were decreased in lymph nodes of stage IV. 6. The percentage of CD8 cells was higher in distal nodes of stage III. Regional lymph nodes are necessary to protect against cancer metastasis, and killer T cells and cytotoxic T cells were fewer in lymph nodes. These results suggested that killer activity and cytotoxicity of the lymph node lymphocytes are inactive and anergy.