[Tumor proliferation, MDR phenotype and tumor associated t-lymphocytes in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas]

In this study we examined the P170-expression (mdr-phenotype) in 42 non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas with variant entities immunohistochemically with the mab JSB1. The mdr-phenotype was related to the tumor proliferation as measured by Ki67-expression and AgNOR numbers. Furthermore the mdr-phenotype was related to the tumor associated T-lymphocytes. The mdr-phenotype showed no relation to histological type and the proliferation of the tumor. There was a positive correlation between the mdr-phenotype and CD2-reactive lymphocytes. There was also a significant positive correlation between CD4-reactive lymphocytes and the mean number of AgNOR's. Possibly P170-expression and proliferation of the tumor cells have a lymphotactic effect on T-lymphocytes. The latter could promote tumor progression by means of paracrine mechanisms.