J.Jpn. Surg. Soc.. 99(7): 452-456, 1998

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Feature topic

HOST REACTIONS AFFECT CANCER PROGRESSION

The tumor-host relationship is one of the factors determining the biological behavior of malignant tumors. In colon cancer, the costimulatory molecules B7-1/B7-2 are expressed by macrophages distributed along the invasive margin (tumor-host interface). T-lymphocytes are also distributed in the same area with direct cell-to-cell contact with these B7＋macrophages. The distribution of these macrophages is lower in colon cancer patients with liver metastasis. CD8＋T cells are distributed within cancer cell nests of colon cancer. The survival rate of patients with higher levels of these T-cells is favorable. Our data suggest the presence of a host immune reaction by macrophages and T-lymphocytes, which diminishes the aggressiveness of cancer cells. As shown in the present paper, comparative analysis is required to assess the biological behavior of cancer.

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