[An immunohistochemical study on regional immunological response of uterine cervical cancer]

An immunohistochemical analysis was performed to detect MHC class I (HLA-ABC) and class II (HLA-DR) antigens expression on cancer cells from 20 patients with carcinoma of the cervix using monoclonal antibodies to HLA-ABC and DR antigens. Locally infiltrating lymphocytes were also examined with anti-Leu 1,-Leu 2a,-Leu 3a, and -Leu 12. Class I and class II antigens expression on cervical cancer cell lines OMC-1 and OMC-4 were examined in the same way, and the effects of Interferon (IFN)-gamma treatment were evaluated with Cell-EIA tests. The results were as follows. 1) Class I antigens were preserved in many cases, but lost in some. 2) Class II antigens were newly expressed in some cases. 3) Among the many infiltrating T cells, Leu 2a-positive cells were predominant in surrounding the cancer nests which preserved class I antigens, and Leu 3a-positive cells were predominant in surrounding the cancer nests which expressed class II antigens. 4) Both OMC-1 and OMC-4 cervical cancer cell lines expressed class I and class II antigens. 5) Cell-EIA tests showed that IFN-gamma treatment enhanced the expression of class I and class II antigens in OMC-1 and OMC-4. These results suggested that the preservation of class I antigens and the expression of class II antigens on cervical cancer cells markedly increase the local immune response in cervical cancer, and IFN-gamma treatment enhances the immune response in vivo.