title: Normalization of defective monocyte chemotaxis during chemotherapy in patients with small cell anaplastic carcinoma of the lung.
abstract: Monocyte chemotactic responsiveness (MCR) in 14 patients with small cell anaplastic bronchogenic carcinoma was depressed before treatment compared with the MCR in 28 normal controls (P = 0.00004). MCR was subsequently monitored during combination chemotherapy and after 6 months the MCR had become normalized compared with pretreatment values (P = 0.00006). In addition, chemotactic factor inhibitor (CFI) activity in plasma was measured before treatment and after 6 months. When incubated with plasma before treatment casein had 62% of normal activity and when incubated with plasma after chemotherapy, 81% of normal activity (P = 0.0009). CFI activity decreased by greater amounts in patients in complete remission than in patients in partial remission or in non-responders (P = 0.01). This study supports the concept that cancer patients have depressed monocyte function. Chemotherapy seems to enhance monocyte chemotaxis in vitro and to decrease CFI activity in plasma.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D002630:Chemotactic Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008130:Lomustine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D014750:Vincristine; D008130:Lomustine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008727:Methotrexate