NK cell density in malignant skin tumours--a stereological study
Smolle, J.; Soyer, H.P.; Ehall, R.; Stettner, H.; Kerl, H.
British Journal of Dermatology 116(6): 823-829
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0007-0963 PMID: 3620343 Document Number: 301097
We determined the density of natural killer (NK) cells in frozen sections of malignant melanoma (nine cases), squamous cell carcinoma (six cases) and non-neoplastic tonsil (five cases) by immunohistological and stereological methods. The mean density of NK cells in malignant melanoma (5.0 .+-. 1.5 .times. 103/mm3) and in squamous cell carcinoma (5.1 .+-. 2.7 .times. 103/mm3) was significantly lower than in germinal centres of normal human tonsils (5.0 .+-. 0.8 .times. 104/mm3). The NK cell/tumour cell ratio (0.03 .+-. 0.015 in malignant melanoma and 0.02 .+-. 0.015 in squamous cell carcinoma) is 102-104 times lower than that commonly used for in vitro assays. The possible role of NK cells in malignant skin tumours should be viewed with caution.