Lymphocyte subpopulations in malignant ascites of serous papillary ovarian adenocarcinoma. An immunocytochemical study.

The aim of this study was to investigate lymphocyte subpopulations in 17 patients with malignant ascites due to serous papillary adenocarcinoma of the ovary. Eight patients had not been treated prior to the study whereas nine patients had been treated by surgery and chemotherapy. A panel of monoclonal antibodies against surface markers that correlate with the immune functions of the lymphocytes was used. The lymphocyte subpopulations were identified by the immunoperoxidase adhesive slide assay, and the results in treated and untreated patients were compared. Both groups of patients showed lymphocytosis (41 +/- 25% and 33 +/- 14% of the total cells, respectively). The untreated patients had a significantly higher proportion of B cells (14 +/- 4% of lymphocytes) than did treated patients (7 +/- 2%). No differences were found between both groups regarding the helper-inducer/suppressor-cytotoxic T lymphocyte ratio. The proportion of lymphocytes expressing interleukin-2-receptors was higher in treated patients (6 +/- 2%) than in untreated patients (1.2 +/- 1%). Both groups showed a high percentage of natural killer/cytotoxic cells (17 +/- 7% and 18 +/- 5%, respectively). In the only chylous effusion in this study, there was an increase in helper-inducer and activated T lymphocytes. Future studies are required to document whether surface marker analysis of lymphocytes in malignant effusions may be useful for assessment of the prognosis and the results of treatment.