ANTITUMOR ACTION OF LYMPHOKIN-ACTIVATED CELLS OF PATIENTS WITH SOFT TISSUE SARCOMAS AND MELANOMAS IN DEPENDENCE ON EXPRESSION OF MHC CLASSES I AND II ANTIGENES
R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology and Radiobiology,
National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv 03022, Ukraine
Abstract. Aim: To study expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)
classes І and ІІ antigens and CD25, CD71, Ki-67, CD54, CD56, CD11b, PCNA on lymphocytes
and tumor cells and antitumor action of lymphocytes activated with IL-2. Materials and
Methods: Tumor explants (soft tissue sarcoma, n = 20, melanoma, n = 25) were
co-cultivated in diffusion chambers with autologous lymphocytes; antitumor action was
evaluated by morphologic patterns of explant’s growth. Expression of CD25, CD71, Ki-67,
CD54, CD56, CD11b, PCNA was evaluated by the method of indirect fluorescence using
respective monoclonal antibodies. Results: The highest antitumor action of
lymphocytes toward soft tissue sarcoma and melanoma cells is observed if tumor cells are
expressing MHC class I antigens. In the cases of soft tissue sarcoma no correlation
between the level of antitumor activity of lymphocytes and expression of CD25, CD71,
Ki-67, CD54, CD56, CD11b, PCNA has been found, whilst in the case of melanoma it is
associated with the high level of CD11b expression. Conclusion: There is a direct
correlation between sensitivity of soft tissue sarcoma and melanoma cells to action of
lymphokin-activated killer cells and the level of MHC class I antigens.
Key Words:class I and II MHC antigens, LAK, soft tissue sarcoma,
melanoma
