Prognostic role of natural killer cells in pediatric non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

Abstract

The study of background cells in tumors as a prognostic parameter has been a great concern in pathology. Natural killer cells have spontaneous cytotoxic capacity against tumor cells. Their prognostic significance in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has yet to be determined. Fifty-seven pediatric non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients (containing noncleaved cell, lymphoblastic and large cell subtypes) are included in this study. Immunohistochemical stains were performed for natural killer cells using a monoclonal antibody CD57 in sections of appropriate paraffin blocks. CD57 positive cells among 5000 cells were counted on immersion objective. The degree of natural killer cells was classified as low (