[Cellular reactions in tumor stroma and reactive changes in regional lymph nodes in breast cancer]

A study of 65 cases of breast cancer patients showed a complex interrelation between morphological characteristics (grade of malignancy, lymphoid infiltration, level of sinus histiocytosis and lymphoid hyperplasia in lymph nodes), clinical data (stage of the disease and extent of metastatic spread) and the results of immunological tests such as spontaneous rosette-formation and blastogenic reaction of lymphocytes. The level of lymphoid infiltration was found to be in direct correlation with that of tumor differentiation and in reverse correlation with patents' age. Cases exhibiting sinus histiocytosis developed metastases with a lower frequency. An increase in the level of lymphoid hyperplasia in lymph nodes was observed at early stages of tumor dissemination. A considerable drop in blastogenic reaction of lymphocytes was registered in cases of lymphoid infiltration-free tumors. Lymphoid hyperplasia in lymph nodes was associated with a lowered B-lymphocyte count in peripheral blood. A drop in the frequency of lymphoid infiltration was registered in patients with a stable decrease in the level of T-lymphocytes in the course of treatment. Also, clinical course was notably unfavorable in cases of lymphoid infiltration who responded well to treatment.