IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL AND HISTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON T LYMPHOCYTES AND IMMUNOGLOBULIN-PRODUCING CELLS IN GASTRIC CARCINOMA

Quantitating T lymphocytes and IgA-, IgM-, IgG-producing cells was performed in gastric carcinoma tissue and mucosa adjacent to carcinoma and three cm from carcinoma in biopsies of 48 patients. T lymphocytes were identified by ANAE stain. Antibody-producing cells were stained by immunocytochemical methods. T lymphocytes and IgG-producing cells per mmwere significantly increased both in gastric carcinoma tissue and the mucosa adjacent to it. T lymphocytes concentrated around the tumor cells, some of which were degenerating or necrotic. The percentage of T lymphocytes in gastric carcinoma tissue was 53.0%, and that in normal gastric mucosa was 12.5%. The percentage of IgA-producing cells was decreased in cancer tissue and gastric mucosa affected by atrophic gastritis and benign ulcers.