title: Immunologic status in children with brain tumors and the effect of therapy.
abstract: The cellular and humoral immunological parameters (leucocyte, granulocyte, lymphocyte, total T, T4, T8 lymphocyte counts, lymphoproliferative response to PHA [LP-PHA], natural killer cell activity [NKCA], IgG, IgM and IgA levels) of 20 pediatric brain tumor patients were investigated before and after chemo-(CT) and radiotherapy (RT) administered according to the UIOI-PBT-91 protocol. The T4 and T8 cell percentages and the LP-PHA values before therapy were found to be significantly diminished in comparison to values obtained from 12 healthy children (p < 0.05). In patients receiving postoperative CT, all cellular immunity parameters except T8 cell number and NKCA; IgG and IgA levels were significantly decreased after two courses of CT (p < 0.05). In 7 patients given postoperative RT, a depression in all cellular immunity parameters was observed (p < 0.05). In 6 patients treated with 2 courses of postoperative CT followed by RT administered concomitantly with low dose CDDP, there was a decrease in all cellular and humoral immunity parameters, which was not found to be significant. In 5/18 patients infectious episodes in mild to moderate severity were observed, none causing mortality. It was concluded that the UIOI-PBT-91 protocol caused cellular immunosuppression both after CT and after RT and some humoral immunosuppression after CT, but was found to be tolerable in regard to acute immunological side effects.
authors.affiliation: University of Istanbul, Department of Clinical Oncology, Turkey.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kebudi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ayan
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Darendeliler
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ağaoğlu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ekmekçioğlu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yağci
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pişkin
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bilge
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male