Lymphocyte subpopulation in primary lung cancer.
To determine whether impaired cellular immune responsiveness in lung cancer patients is related to a reduction in the number of T lymphocytes, circulating levels of T-rosette-forming lymphocytes were measured in 48 cases with primary lung cancer and compared to levels in 94 age-matched healthy subjects. The results show that T lymphocytes levels are significantly reduced in lung cancer patients. A possible consequence of reduced numbers of circulating T lymphocytes would be a diminution in tumor-inhibiting (T-cell) influences and a corresponding relative enhancement of blocking (B-cell) influences, a circumstance which would favor tumor proliferation.
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000276:immunology; D002282:Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar / Q000276:immunology; D000368:Aged; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012397:Rosette Formation; D012882:Skin Tests; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D007136:Immunoglobulins