The influence of 5-fluorouracil on cellular and humoral immunity in cancer patients.
The effects of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on the immune functions of twelve patients with disseminated cancer were studied, using as parameters the peripheral blood lymphocyte count, serum immunoglobulin levels, titers of natural blood group antibodies, percentages of E and EAC rosette forming cells, and lymphocyte proliferative responses to PHA and PPD. No effects on the humoral immune functions or on the percentages of E and EAC rosette forming cells were observed. 5-FU caused a decrease in the proliferative responses of lymphocytes to PHA and PPD. The patients could be divided into two groups: those surviving for six months or more, and those succumbing earlier. The latter ones had already initially poor proliferative responses, particularly to PPD, and the response strongly decreased during the 5-FU treatment. In the patients with a longer survival time, the effects of 5-FU on the PPD and PHA responses were not as striking.
D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D014373:Tuberculin
D037102:Lectins; D014373:Tuberculin; D005472:Fluorouracil