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World J Gastroenterol. Mar 21, 2006; 12(11): 1757-1760
Published online Mar 21, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i11.1757
Morphological observation of tumor infiltrating immunocytes in human rectal cancer
Zun-Jiang Xie, Li-Min Jia, Ye-Chun He, Jiang-Tao Gao
Zun-Jiang Xie, Li-Min Jia, Ye-Chun He, Jiang-Tao Gao, Department of Anatomy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150086, Heilongjiang Province, China
Supported by Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province, No.D0234
Correspondence to: Professor Ye-Chun He, Department of Anatomy, Harbin Medical University, No.194, Xuefu Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150086, Heilongjiang Province, China. heyec@126.com
Telephone: +86-451-86670773
Received: July 22, 2005
Revised: August 10, 2005
Accepted: October 26, 2005
Published online: March 21, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the morphological characterization of tumor infiltrating dendritic cells (TIDCs) and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in human rectal cancer.

METHODS: Light and electron microscopy as well as immunohistochemistry were used to observe the distributive and morphological changes of TIDCs and TILs.

RESULTS: TIDCs were mainly located in tumor-surrounding tissue. The number of TIDCs in the earlier stage was higher than that in the later stage (P < 0.01). TILs were mainly seen in adjacent tissue of cancers and tumor-surrounding tissue. There were more TILs in the earlier stage than that in the later stage (P <0.01). Under electron microscope, TIDCs were irregular in shape and exhibited many dendritic protrusions. It isn’t obvious that cancer cells perforated the basement membrane and TILs were arranged along the basement membrane in the earlier stage. In the later stage, it is explicit that cancer cells perforated the basement membrane and surrounded by TILs. There were contacts among TIDCs, TILs and tumor cell. One TIDCs contacted one or several TILs which clustered around TIDCs. Glycogen granules were seen between TIDCs and TILs.

CONCLUSION: The number of TIDCs and TILs is related with tumor progression There exist close relationships among TIDCs, TILs and tumor cell.

Keywords: Rectal cancer, Tumor infiltrating dendritic cells, Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes