Influence of local radiotherapy of breast cancer patients on the frequency of cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursor cells.
Alloantigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursor (CTL-p) frequencies were analyzed in ten patients with histologically proven breast cancer receiving prophylactic RT. The frequency of CTL-p was assessed by limiting dilution (LD) analyses before, immediately after discontinuation of treatment and at various times following RT. The number of pbmnc, adherent cells and T cells was determined in parallel. Local RT led to a minor and transient reduction of CTL-p frequencies lasting approximately three months: on average a 25% decrease of CTL-p numbers was seen immediately after RT. Three months following treatment, a 20% reduction was still evident. Values subsequently returned to pretreatment levels. Moreover, these changes in the frequency of antigen-specific CTL were accompanied by a 25% to 39% decrease in the blood T cell counts lasting for more than 12 months. The reductions following local RT were less pronounced than those induced by immunosuppressive drugs in allograft recipients.
Berger
M
M
Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Innsbruck, Austria.
Irschick
E
E
Fritsch
E
E
Frommhold
H
H
Schönitzer
D
D
Wiegele
J
J
Kemmler
G
G
Huber
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000209:etiology*; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011867:Radioisotope Teletherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use
D013629:Tamoxifen