Analysis of Tumour-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Cervical Carcinoma

Abstract

Infiltrating lymphocytes are readily seen in cervical. tumours but little information is available regarding their functional. properties. Methods have recently been developed that allow the isolation and propagation of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in the presence of interleukin-2 (IL-2) which allows their functional. characterisation. TIL from many solid human tumours eg. breast, ovary, lung and colon have been shown to proliferate in bulk culture under the influence of IL-2 and exhibit predominantly non-MHC restricted cytotoxicity with varying degrees of cytotoxicity against autologous and allogeneic targets. In contrast, TIL isolated from some malignant melanomas exhibit specific autologous tumour cytotoxicity. Evidence that cell-mediated immunity plays a role in the control of virus-induced tumours prompted a study to determine whether HPV related cervical. tumours elicit a specific T cell response.