Changes in skeleton, bone marrow reactivity and in immunity of patients with tumors of testis during long-term complete clinical remission.
A series of various tests were carried out in 19 patients treated for germinal tumors of the testis, with a long-term survival rate (7 to 28 years) in a complete clinical remission and the results compared with those of a previous investigation made 6 years earlier [3]. The tests involved: radionuclear investigation of the skeleton (85Sr--test), determination of bone isoenzyme of serum alkaline phosphatase, urinary hydroxyproline excretion, cytological examination of bone marrow, assay of serum levels of IgM, IgG and IgA as also of C3 complement, determination of the percentage and absolute number of peripheral T-lymphocytes, the test of blastic lymphocyte transformation after PHA and the skin test with DNCB. A chronic restructuralization of bone tissue (positive and suspected 85Sr-test in 74% of patients) was noted even after the relatively long time span. Likewise, an enhanced activity of bone isoenzyme of serum alkaline phosphatase was found in the majority of the patients, as also nonspecific reactive changes of bone marrow in the form of total hyperplasia and hyperplasia of various cellular elements, particularly of plasmacytes, eosinophils and lymphoid reticulum. Immunological tests revealed a depressed cell-mediated immunity -- especially a significant drop in the absolute number of peripheral T-lymphocytes.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology