[Radial segmentation of lymphocytes in peripheral blood of patients with non-small cell lung cancer ]

The term radial segmentation (RS) is applied to a characteristic nuclear deformation observed in peripheral blood in vitro in some neoplastic and normal cells. It concerns al mononuclear cells. RS positive lymphocytes were found as CD 4 cells. Different conditions and substances, i.e. anticoagulant or cyclosporin can induce the formation of RS nuclei in vitro. Elevated ratio of RS nuclei in peripheral blood has been observed in patients with some autoimmunological diseases i.e. rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus insulin-dependent, sarcoidosis. Reduced ratio of RS nuclei was observed in neoplastic diseases. The aim of the study was to analyze the incidence of RS nuclei of lymphocytes in vitro in peripheral blood (induced by cyclosporin) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Heparinized peripheral blood was obtained from controls and patients with primary NSCLC. The blood was incubated with cyclosporin, and then lymphocytes were isolated by Lymphoprep. RS positive lymphocytes were counted in smears stained with MGG stain. In peripheral blood from healthy donors the average incidence of lymphocytes RS was 3.314% and in patients with NSCLC 4.481% respectively. The difference between controls and patients with NSCLC was not significant. No correlation was found between incidence of RS and stadium of lung cancer.