Abstract
The in vitro lymphocyte response to PHA was studied in patients with Hodgkin's disease, bronchogenic calcinoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia; the results were correlated with the clinical and immunologic status of these patients. The lymphocyte blastogenesis was normal among patients in remission, except in a few instances in which depression could be attributed to antecedent therapy: PHA response varied greatly among patients with active Hodgkin's disease and appeared to be affected by a variety of factors related to the disease and to treatment. The mean PHA response in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma was significantly depressed as compared to that of normal subjects. There was a correlation between lymphocyte blastogenesis and the extent of the disease or survival of these patients with bronchogenic carcinoma. The PHA response was markedly depressed and delayed in almost all patients with active chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and it was only slightly or moderately depressed, but somewhat delayed, in some patients in remission. The lymphocyte response correlated well with the duration of disease, the status of therapy, the status of disease, the degree of lymphocytosis, and the immunologic status of these patients in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.