Effect of syngeneic and allogeneic plasma on lymphocytes from cancer patients, patients with non-neoplastic diseases, and normal subjects

Cellular Immunity in Two Familial Cases of Thyroid Carcinoma

Cellular immunity in two brothers with thyroid carcinoma in a family presenting pathological thyroid changes was investigated. In these brothers a low PHA lymphocyte blast-transformation and an elevated number of surface membrane Ig bearing lymphocytes were observed. These data are discussed in relation to the question of immunological defects which frequently are present in carcinoma patients.

Significance of tumour mass on T-lymphocyte levels in patients with gastrointestinal cancer

The relationship between tumour load and immunity in gastrointestinal cancer has been studied by sequential comparison in patients whose tumour has been removed and those whose tumour was found to be inoperable. Total lymphocyte count, absolute and percentage T- and B-lymphocyte counts, effect of papain on E-rosetting cell levels, and inhibitory effect of cancer sera on E-rosette formation by normal lymphocytes have been studied in 30 patients with stomach or colorectal cancer, and 10 control patients with benign gastrointestinal disease. The examination was done on each patient before and at regular intervals after operation up to 24 weeks. Operable cases, with removal of tumour load, showed a temporary fall in total lymphocyte count and T cell counts, which returned to normal by four weeks postoperatively. Inoperable cases (15 patients) showed a progressive fall in total lymphocyte count and a relatively greater depression of T cell counts, in parallel with increasing tumour mass. E-receptor blocking factor was demonstrated in the sera of cancer patients. This factor was related to tumour mass and presumably was of tumour origin, as it persisted in the inoperable group but disappeared by 12 weeks after tumour removal. The factor explained the excess depresion of T cells over total lymphocytes, but does not explain the continuing depression of total lymphocyte count in the cancer patients.

Immunocompetence, immunosuppression, and human breast cancer. I. An analysis of their relationship by known parameters of cell-mediated immunity in well-defined clinical stages of disease

General immune competence was examined 255 breast cancer patients, including 104 operable, 44 locally advanced/inoperable, and 44 with demonstrable metastatic dissemination, all at the time of diagnosis, as well as 63 disease-free long survivors; this was compared with that of 100 normal controls. The parameters employed were PPD and DNCB skin testing, lymphocyte response to PHA mitogen, E-rosette formation, and lymphocyte number. Significant patients, with only 31% showing optimal and 25% showing minimal levels of immune function, as compared with 70% optimal and 2% minimal function in controls. Immune competence was not affected by metastatic involvement of regional lymph nodes. In patients with early, occult metastatic dissemination (as determined in retrospect), the degree of immune competence was found to be identical to that of patients who did not develop disease dissemination. Remarkably, this early phase of tumor spread is not accompanied by immune impairment, such as is evident in clinically demonstrable metastatic disease and, to a lesser degree, in advanced local and regional disease. Since tumor dissemination preceded impairment of general immunocompetence, it emerges as the cause rather than the result of immunosuppression. Long disease-free survivors, who had postoperative irradiation 5-12 years previously, were shown to have a notably low level of immune competence. Lymphocyte response to PHA stimulation was found to be impaired in the earlier stages of disease, while skin DHR was still well maintained; in advanced disease both parameters tend to correlate as total immunologic impairment ensues. The sequence of immunologic events leading up to immunosuppression with disease progress is discussed.

EFFECT OF SERUM OF MYCOSIS FUNGOIDES PATIENTS ON LYMPHOCYTE TRANSFORMATION

In vitro transformation of peripheral lymphocytes by PHA was usually impaired in mycosis fungoides patients in the infiltrative plaque and tumor stages, while not being significantly impaired in the premycotic stage. A serum factor, reducing transformation by PHA, was demonstrated in 2 of 5 patients in the premycotic stage as well as in 2 and probably 3 of 4 patients in the infiltrative plaque or tumor stage. This serum factor affected both autologous (mycosis fungoides) and normal lymphocytes. The factor tended to be present in patients whose lymphocytes were impaired rather than in those whose lymphocytes were not significantly impaired. The degree of the reduction by mycosis fungoides serum seemed to correlate with the serum concentration of gamma-globulin rather than that of alpha2-globulin. The possible nature and clinical significance of this factor are discussed.

Lymphocyte transformation in leukemic serum

Cultures of normal lymphocytes were induced to transform by pokeweed mitogen (PWM). Inhibition of transformation was observed when these cultures contained sera isolated from children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The inhibition of transformation of normal lymphocytes was best demonstrated when the concentration of the leukemic serum in the culture medium was relatively high (60 percent); however, the inhibition was also observed with a more standard serum concentration (20 percent). Not all leukemic sera were inhibitory. Pretreatment sera from newly diagnosed patients with leukocyte counts greater than 50,000/mm3 were significantly inhibitory. Pretreatment sera from newly diagnosed patients with leukocyte counts less than 50,000/mm3, and sera from patients in remission or relapse had no significant effect. The inhibition observed with the sera of the high leukocyte count group was not believed to be related to cytotoxicity. The significance of this inhibitor in relation to clinical prognosis needs to be investigated.

Phytohaemagglutinin-induced lymphocyte transformation in patients before and after resection of large intestinal cancer

Lymphocyte responses to stimulation with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) have been compared in 20 patients with large intestinal cancer, 10 patients whose large intestinal cancers have been removed, and in 30 age- and sex-matched control individuals. Responses were markedly reduced in the tumour-bearing patients and were unaffected by substituting normal for autologous plasma during incubation. Responses, however, were normal after tumour resection suggesting that the defect in lymphocyte responsiveness is a reversible one and related to the presence of tumour tissue.