Although the biological significance of the regional lymphnode as a barrier to tumor remains unclear, the clinical prognostic relevance of the neoplastic infiltration of these nodes is accepted. The most potent antitumor effector cells may be expected...
Although the biological significance of the regional lymphnode as a barrier to tumor remains unclear, the clinical prognostic relevance of the neoplastic infiltration of these nodes is accepted. The most potent antitumor effector cells may be expected to be present within or around the site of tumor growth. However, lymphocytes isolated from solid tumor, cancer ascites fluid, and carcinomatous pleural effusion have been shown to expresse low natural killer (NK) activity or none at all. Similarly, it has been reported that lymphnode can be regarded as an NK-deficient tissue, since more limited cytotoxic activity is recorded in the lymphnode cells. (continue...)