CD-1⁺dendritic cells in lymph nodes and prognosis of kidney neoplasms

Objective: CD-1α⁺ Dendritic cells（DCs） in lymph nodes form a system of highly efficient antigen-presenting cells. An immunohistochemical study was performed to prove their role in immune responses against cancer. Methods: Paraffin blocks were prepared for staining with antibody against CD-1α in tissue specimens obtained from elective lymphadenectomy in 59 cases of kidney neoplasms. Results: The extent of infiltration by CD-1α⁺ DC was evaluated in two groups according to negative and positive metastasis. Densities of DCs is 35.1±13.0/mm² on the average in the negative metastasis;and 25.9±9.6/ mm² in the positive metastasis. The test revealed that the differences in population density between the two groups were significant （P ＜0.001）. Conclusion: DCs may be more directly involved in the host immune reaction against tumor by means of the most important antigen-presenting cells. CD-1α⁺ DCs is important for establishing immunologic defense mechanisms in cases of kidney neoplasms,and the densities of DCs can serve as a useful indicator in assessing prognosis of kidney neoplasms.