[Cells affected by apoptosis in effusions of tumor origin in man]

The cells from 3 human effusions of tumoral origin (adenocarcinoma) were observed by light and transmission electron microscopy. The presence and the type of cells undergoing apoptosis were studied. Among the different cell types present in these effusions, only some lymphocytes, macrophages and eosinophils (cells concerned in cell-mediated tumor immunity) are affected by the morphological changes of apoptosis. We did not find, as other authors did, tumor cells or other cell types (mesothelial cells, histiocytes, other granulocytes) showing apoptic alterations. The authors conclude that this peculiar morphological type of cell death affects the effector cells of the cell-mediated tumor immunity being at the end of their life-span.