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

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.