The relation of HLA-DR antigen, lymphocytes and natural killer cells in human bilharzial bladder carcinoma.

The HLA-DR antigen type was studied in fifty-four patients with bilharzial bladder carcinoma and in ten patients but with non malignant bilharzial bladder lesions as controls. The monoclonal antibodies were used to identify the pattern of the distribution of lymphocytes subset and the natural killer cells. These immunohistochemical studies through some light on the relation between the different immunocompetent cells in the bladder tissue and suggested their functional role particularly in bilharziasis and in the tumour surveillance.