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. 1994 Nov;39(6):383–390. doi: 10.1007/BF01534425

In vivo infiltration of mononuclear cells in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck correlated with the ability to expand tumour-infiltrating T cells in vitro and with the expression of MHC class I antigens on tumour cells

Jesper Hald 1,✉, Niels Rasmussen 3, Mogens H Claesson 4
PMCID: PMC11038029  PMID: 8001026

Abstract

A series of 18 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma biopsies, 6 primary and 12 recurrent, were investigated for tumour-infiltrating mononuclear cells with monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies. Our results suggest that the number of T cells at the tumour edge in vivo correlates well with their ability to expand in vitro in the presence of high-dose interleukin-2 (2000 U/ml). High MHC class I antigen expression on tumour cells was found to be positively correlated with p53 overexpression, suggesting that p53-derived peptides. wild-type or mutated ones, presented by MHC class I antigens, are potential targets for MHC-restricted cytotoxic T cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. However, lack of correlation between peritumoural T cell infiltration in vivo and T cell expansion in vitro on the one hand, and p53 over-expression on tumour cells, on the other hand, suggests absence of p53-peptide-specific T cells in the patients. Eight out of ten expanded tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) cultures showed T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity. „Promiscuous” cytotoxic T cell activity against the natural-killer-cell-sensitive K562 target cell line was observed in three out of ten TIL expansion cultures.

Key words: Squamous cell carcinoma, TIL, T cells, NK cells, MHC class I, p53

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