Distinct pattern of HSP72 and monomeric laminin receptor expression in human lung cancers infiltrated by γ/δ T lymphocytes

We have previously demonstrated that gamma/delta T lymphocytes may participate in the host immune response against lung adenocarcinomas. Here we show that, in about one-fourth of human lung cancers, gamma/delta T cells represented a significant proportion of freshly isolated tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Moreover, these cells selectively expand in vitro upon culture in the presence of IL-2, thus suggesting a prior activation in vivo. Finally, when we evaluated the expression of heat shock proteins and of a panel of tumor-associated antigens in lung cancers infiltrated by gamma/delta vs. alpha/beta T cells, we found that the former displayed a distinct antigenic pattern, characterized by over-expression of HSP72 and of the 67-kDa high-affinity laminin receptor, which might account for gamma/delta T-cell recognition.