Activated T lymphocytes in infiltrates and draining lymph nodes of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Lymphocytes isolated from the tumors and draining lymph nodes of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients exhibit the following characteristics of immune activation: (1) stable E rosette formation, (2) natural attachment to various human cells, (3) sensitivity in vitro to the lytic effect of glucocorticoids. Although the NPC T cells attach in vitro to various cells they kill only EBV-genome-carrying targets. These findings suggest the occurrence of a local cellular immune response in NPC, possibly directed to EBV-determined antigens.