Expression of transferrin- and interleukin-2-receptors, and HLA-DR in human lung carcinoma

The expression of HLA-DR and of the receptors for transferrin and interleukin-2 was histochemically analyzed for 27 human lung carcinomas, 3 mesotheliomas, and 3 thymomas by use of the monoclonal antibodies CLONAB Tf-R, Il-2R, and LN3. In addition, a pan B-cell antibody (CD-19) and a pan T-cell antibody (CD3) were applied. The transferrin receptor was found to be expressed in all cases of adenocarcinoma, in 12/17 cases of epidermoid carcinoma, and in a similar percentage of the thymoma cases (2/3). The interleukin-2 receptor specific antibody stained positively only for 3 cases (1 mesothelioma, 1 adenocarcinoma, and 1 epidermoid carcinoma). The expression of HLA-DR could be demonstrated in a similar small percentage of adenocarcinoma and of epidermoid carcinoma, however in 2/3 cases of mesothelioma and thymoma, respectively. The CD-19 antibody stained negatively for all tumor cases, the pan T-antibody positive in 2/10 adenocarcinoma and in 1/3 thymoma. The data suggest that the transferrin receptor may play an important role in human lung tumor growth. In addition, it may be used as diagnostic aid for distinguishing mesothelioma from metastatic adenocarcinoma of lung into the pleura.