title: Critical evaluation of lymphocyte functions in urological cancer patients.
abstract: One hundred three patients with varying stages of urological cancer (bladder, prostate, kidney) were investigated with regard to the following lymphocyte functions. T-cells were assessed numerically (E rosettes), their blastogenic response to phytohemagglutinin (pHA) was determined, and their cytotoxic potential against heterologous target cells in short-term presence of PHA (e.i., PHA-dependent cellular cytotoxocity) was evaluated. Similarly, B cells were numerically assessed (EA rosettes), and their function was evaluated by antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against antibody-coated deterologous target cells. The data on cancer patients, divided on the basis of extent of disease and prior radiation therapy, were compared to those of normal young and age-matched controls. Our investigations emphasize the importance of the following factors: (a) comparison of data with age-matched controls, since several lymphocyte functions appear to change with age; (b) use of multiple controls to compensate for the inherent variability found in certain tests; (c) minimized contamination by nonlymphoid cells in the purified cell preparation; and (d) the influence of certain treatment regimens (radiation, chemotherapy, etc.) on the results. Radiotherapy significantly depressed T-cell number with a depression of PHA blastogenic responses as well as PHA-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. When all of these conditions were taken into account, the urological cancer patients as a group were found to have a lower proportional value of E rosettes (T-cells) and a reduced PHA blastogenic responsiveness. Certain cancer patients displayed an elevated PHA-dependent cellular cytotoxicity as compared to age-matched controls, which may indicate the presence of activated cells in the presence of tumors. With this identification of a group of cancer patients with markedly depressed E rosette values and PHA responsiveness, it will now be possible to follow them clinically in comparison with a group of cancer patients with normal T-cell functions.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002452:Cell Count; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed; D007104:Immune Adherence Reaction; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology; D014565:Urogenital Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000532:radiotherapy
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins