title: Interferon in breast cancer.
abstract: The interferon production ability by leukocytes in vitro from 37 patients with mammary cancer was studied. The leukocytes were derived from patients between 27 and 80 years of age, 6 months and up to 28 years after removal of the primary tumor. The interferon titer of 34/37 human breast cancer leukocytes was 2-8 times lower than that of 35 normal donor leukocytes and 3 non-neoplastic diseases. No correlation between interferon titers, the patient's age, and the histologic tumor features was observed; however, interferon production was observed to return to normal in those patients who had a long remission period or whose tumors were locally confined. Interferon response of patients under different therapy was modified: radiotherapy affected interferon production more severely than chemotherapy. A tendency for association between the skin DNCB test and interferon response was found. An inverse correlation was observed between interferon titers and the PHA-induced transformation index.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007369:Interferon Inducers; D007372:Interferons / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D007369:Interferon Inducers; D007372:Interferons