title: [Immunocellular response to fetal antigens in patients with hepatoma (author's transl)].
abstract: The immunocellular response to fetal antigens was studied in ten patients with hepatocarcinomas. Homogenized extracts of human fetal liver and purified human alpha-fetoprotein were used as antigen substances. The control group included 15 patients with cirrhosis of the liver. The level of circulating T lymphocytes (E-rosettes) was also registered. Patients with hepatocarcinoma showed a definite response to both antigens, determined by the degree of inhibition of leukocyte migration. The migration indices were as follows: x = 0.65 +/- 0.16 for homogenized fetal liver antigen, and x = 0.79 +/- 0.13 for alpha-fetoprotein antigen. These values were 0.93 +/- 0.13 and 0.95 +/- 0.15 respectively in the cirrhotic patients. The differences in the migration indices for the two groups were statistically significant with both antigens (p less than 0.0005 and p less than 0.005). The decrease of the number of T lymphocytes in patients with hepatomas was also significant (p less than 0.005). The determination with homogenized fetal antigen was more sensitive than with alpha-fetoprotein (p less than 0.01). A significant relationship between the severity of the tumor and the immunocellular response could also be seen (r = 0.84; p less than 0.001). Response tended to diminish as the tumor progressed. The disappearance of immunocellular response seemed to depend at least in part on the decreasing number of T lymphocytes, since there was a significant inverse correlation between the two parameters (r = -0.75; p less than 0.01).
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000276:immunology*; D002464:Cell Migration Inhibition; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008099:Liver / Q000196:embryology / Q000276:immunology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins
vernacular_title: Respuesta inmunocelular frente a antígenos fetales en pacientes con hepatoma.