title: Evaluation of lymphocyte subpopulations in patients with bladder cancer: a study with monoclonal antibodies.
abstract: Peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations of 47 patients with bladder cancer were analyzed using monoclonal antibodies (OKT3, OKT4, OKT8 and OKIa7). Thirty five patients were untreated, and 12 were treated, disease-free patients. In untreated patients, the number of total lymphocytes and the percentage of OKT3+ cells decreased. Among the OKT3+ T cell population, the percentage of OKT4+ cells tended to decrease significantly, whereas the percentage of OKT8+ cells rather increased, resulting in the decrease of the OKT4+/OKT8+ ratio. These tendencies became more evident as the stage advanced. In treated, disease-free patients, no such characteristic changes were observed and the lymphocyte subpopulation apparently fell into the normal range. Furthermore, the retrospective study clearly indicated that the patients with a lower OKT4+/OKT8+ ratio showed a higher recurrence rate within a year. Analysis of peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations thus appears to be useful in the follow-up of bladder cancer patients, especially those with superficial tumors.
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface