title: Specific and aspecific immune responsiveness in lung cancer patients: cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity reactions to a lung cancer-associated antigen.
abstract: The ability of a lung cancer-associated antigen (LCAA) to provoke specific cutaneous delayed-hypersensitivity reactions has been studied on a group of 59 lung cancer patients. Biological activity of LCAA, monitored by skin testing, was demonstrated in 32% (17 of 53) of lung cancer patients, in 48.0% with limited disease, and in 17.2% with extensive disease. All the responders were in the group of normal reactors to standard recall antigens, if three antigens were used (PPDSK-SD, candida). No correlation was found between biological activity of LCAA and level of immunocompetence evaluated by lymphocyte-blastic transformation with PHA and count of rosette E-forming cells. These studies on the capacity to evoke specific DTH reactions in lung-cancer patients will be extended to the use of assays in vitro in the perspective of a more significant evaluation of immunocompetence levels.
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008875:Middle Aged; D012397:Rosette Formation; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000939:Epitopes