Immune evaluation of lung cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy

✍ Scribed by S. Stefani; R. Kerman; J. Abbate

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1976
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 441 KB
• Volume: 37
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0008-543X
• DOI: 10.1002/1097-0142(197606)37:6<2792::aid-cncr2820370634>3.0.co;2-z

✦ Synopsis

Immunocompetence, as determined by skin reactivity to five microbial antigens, dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), and percent and absolute number of total T and B rosette-forming cells (RFC), was assessed before and up to 180 days after radiotherapy in 29 patients with carcinoma of the lung. Pretherapy evaluation showed a depressed response to microbial antigens (only 38% positive), to DNCB (50% positive), and lower level of T-KFC. Postradiotherapy determinations were further depressed. Patients with positive pretherapy responses to microbial antigens and DNCB and higher than median absolute numbers of total T-RFC had significantly longer survival. These data suggest that pretherapy immune evaluation is a good prognostic indicator. No prognostic significance was found in B-RFC evaluation. No correlation was seen between the stage of disease (locally advanced or with distant metastases) and the pretherapy immiine response.