title: Seasonal variation in tumor size at diagnosis and immunologic responses in human breast cancer.
abstract: Seasonal variations were observed in tumor size and a number of immunologic responses among patients entered in the Breast Cancer Prognostic Study. A significantly larger number of cases were diagnosed with smaller tumors, less than 2 cm, during December through February. It was also noted that elevated inflammatory reactions were seen in breast tumors removed during November, December and January. Seasonal changes were also observed in the serum IgM and IgE concentrations at the time of the patient's mastectomy. Elevated fall-winter leukocyte migration inhibition response to MCF-7 extracts correlated with the same seasonal elevations observed with serum IgM response. Implications of seasonal variation as a reflection of immune events are considered.
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D008408:Mastectomy; D008824:Michigan; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012306:Risk; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007073:Immunoglobulin E