Preliminary study of mononuclear phagocytosis during breast cancer therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the eventual changes in the number and phagocytic functions of blood monocytes in breast cancer patients during surgical treatment and chemotherapy.


METHODS
The absolute and relative number of peripheral blood leukocytes and monocyte phagocytic functions were determined at the time of diagnosis (I), following surgery (II), during (III) and after chemotherapy (IV) in 30 patients diagnosed with breast cancer. The control group consisted of 30 age-matched healthy women.


RESULTS
The mean number of monocytes was significantly lower in cancer patients at diagnosis, while they increased following surgery reaching the control values. There were no postchemotherapy changes in the number of monocytes. Monocyte phagocytic activity was decreased at the time of diagnosis. Following surgery, the capacity of phagocytosis (CP) recovered to normal values, but the index of phagocytosis (IP) remained decreased. During and after chemotherapy, as well as one year after surgery, the IP still remained decreased.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results showed that some properties of monocytes' phagocytic activity in cancer patients were decreased at diagnosis, returning back to normal range after surgical therapy. However, time is needed to confirm whether the alteration of IP may provide additional information when monitoring breast cancer patients.
Arsenijević
N
N
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia and Montenegro.
Baskić
D
D
Popović
S
S
Ristić
P
P
Aćimović
L
L