title: Inhibition of mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation by autologous serum in oesophageal carcinoma.
abstract: The reactivity of lymphocytes from patients with oesophageal carcinoma in response to mitogenic stimulation with phytohaemagglutinin was assessed in four culture systems in an attempt to demonstrate an inhibitory effect of cancer serum on lymphocyte transformation. The metaphase index (number of cells at metaphase/1000 live cells) was used to determine lymphocyte reactivity of patients and controls in the presence of: (a) autologous plasma; (b) pooled AB serum; (c) pooled plasma from patients with oesophageal cancer, and (d) fetal calf serum. The division of lymphocytes from cancer patients was significantly depressed in the presence of autologous plasma (p<0,001) when compared with division of lymphocytes of control subjects. No significant difference was evident in pooled AB serum, homologous cancer plasma or fetal calf serum. The depressed lymphocyte reactivity in cancer patients appears to be related to a serum inhibitory factor.
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation