Number Of Dendritic Cells In Tumor-free, Micrometastasis And Tumor-containing Lymph Nodes From Patients With Breast Cancer And Its Implication

Objective To get more information about features, functions and anti-tumor mechanisms of dendritic cells(DC) and provide basis of effective immunotherapy for breast cancer, by investigating changes of number of DC in tumor-free,micrometastasis and tumor-containing lymph nodes from patients with breast cancer.Methods 1.477 negative lymph nodes in 53 cases of patients with primary breast cancer by routine pathologic examination were assessed by using immunohistochemistry with cytokeratin-19 antibody. Then, micrometastases lymph nodes were found from the routine pathologic negative lymph nodes.2. 441 tumor-free lymph nodes,36 micrometastasis lymph nodes and 29 tumor-containing lymph nodes in 53 cases of patients with primary breast cancer were assessed by using immunohistochemistry with the S-100 antibody, CDla antibody and CD83 antibody. The changes of number of DC in tumor-free,micrometastasis and tumor-containing lymph nodes from patients with breast cancer was analysed.Result 1. 36 of 477 routine pathologic negative lymph nodes were detected containing micrometastasis, the rate was 7.5%. 20 micrometastasis lymph nodes were found more than two micrometastasis foci.43.4% and 56.6% of cases were found having lymph node foci by routine pathology and immunohistochemistry respectively, the different was significant(P<0.001).2. The number of S-100+DC in micrometastasis and tumor-containing lymph nodes were fewer than tumor-free lymph nodes ,the different was significan(tP <0.01). The number of CD1a+DC in micrometastasis lymph nodes were more than tumor-free and tumor-containing lymph nodes ,but the different was not significan(tP> 0.05 ).The number of CD83+DC in micrometastasis lymph nodes were more than tumor-free and tumor-containing lymph nodes,the different was significant(P <0.05).Conclusion 1. about 8 % routine pathologic negative lymph nodes were found micrometastasis foci. Immunohistochemistry assessment might become the effective method of estimating axillary lymph node micrometastasis of patients with breast cancer.2. The number of DC in regional lymph nodes decreased totally with the tumor growing and metastasis expanding, at the same time,the patients'anti-tumor immunity declined. But the number of mature DC increased in the early stages of lymph nodes metastasis (micrometastasis stage) ,at this period , the DC enhanced the body'anti-tumor immunity.3. Mature DC can enhance the body'anti-tumor immunity and prevent tumor invading and metastasising. So the degree of mature DC infiltrating in lymph nodes is an important indicator of body'immune status.