Selective homing of phenotypically lytic cells within nasopharyngeal carcinoma biopsies: numerous CD8- and CD16-positive cells in the tumor.

We present a comparative analysis of cell-mediated immunity between circulating lymphocytes and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) from patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Phenotypic analysis using a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to define lymphocytic subsets has revealed a selective homing of phenotypically lytic cells such as CD8- and CD16-positive cells, but a low percentage of macrophages when compared to PBL of NPC patients. Also, PBL and TIL contain an equivalent percentage of activated T-lymphocytes expressing HLA-DR molecules and IL-2 receptors. Functionally, TIL exhibit an abolished NK-cell activity and concomitant decrease of proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (ConA) stimulation when compared with PBL.