[Cervix carcinoma as an immunological model. Part 2. In vitro studies and HLA system typing]

Carcinoma of the cervix uteri is one of the most important tumors in women. The tumor induces an immunological defense reaction against itself in the tumor host. The round cell infiltrate at the tumor invasion line, which predominantly consists of small lymphocytes is the morphological equivalent of this interrelationship. In the lymph-nodes of the drainage area of the tumor certain patterns of reaction can be differentiated, which may be interpreted as humoral or cellular immune reactions. Cellular immune reactions in lymph-nodes of patients operated according to the method of Wertheim-Meigs were correlated with a better prognosis of the tumor disease. The hypothesis of an involvement of the HSV-type II in the genesis of the cervical carcinoma is supported by the increased incidence of antibodies against the virus. Therewith, relations between the stage of disease and the age of the patient were found as a possible basis for the virus hypothesis and the immune reaction to the tumor associated antigens an altered genetic situation may be presumed. Typing in the HLA-system demonstrates an accumulation of the frequency of the antigen B12 in patients with carcinoma of the cervix. These investigations may lead to a differentiated outlook with regard to the detection of risk groups and therapeutical consequences for cervical cancer.