The Phenotype of Ascitic Fluid Lymphocytes in Patients with Ovarian Carcinoma and Other Primaries

Abstract

Background: Ascitic tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) are a potential source of effectors for adoptive immunotherapy. Patients and Methods: The TIL phenotype was examined by two-color flow cytometry in malignancy-related ascites of 49 patients with different primaries. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) and neopterin were determined in ascitic fluid by enzyme-linked immunoassay. Results: Malignant melanoma patients had significantly higher CD3⁺, CD3⁺CD8⁺ and CD3⁺CD95⁺, and lower CD3⁺CD4⁺ lymphocyte numbers than patients with other primaries. Ovarian cancer patients had higher CD3⁺CD45RO⁺, CD8⁺CD28⁺, CD19⁺CD86⁺, CD19⁺ and CD19⁺CD86⁺ lymphocyte numbers, and lower NK cell numbers than patients with gastrointestinal and pancreatic primaries. Pretreated patients had significantly lower concentrations of IL-10, lower CD8⁺CD28⁺, CD3⁺CD45RA⁺, and higher CD3⁺CD80⁺ numbers than chemotherapy-naïve patients. Patients with hepatic metastases had lower CD3⁺, CD3⁺CD4⁺ and CD3⁺CD45RO⁺, and higher CD3⁺CD25⁺ and NK cell numbers than patients without liver metastases. A substantial number of cells exhibited dendritic cell phenotype. Significant correlations were observed between neopterin and IL-10 concentrations, and numbers of CD8⁺CD28⁺ and CD3⁺CD80⁺ lymphocytes. Conclusions: Some parameters of TIL phenotype differ depending on primary, previous treatment, or the presence of liver metastases. A negative correlation was observed between IL-10 and neopterin, and an opposing effect of local concentrations of IL-10 and neopterin on the numbers of CD8⁺CD28⁺ and CD3⁺CD80⁺ was noted.