The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 21, 546-551, Copyright © 1976 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Immunocompetence of patients with bronchogenic carcinoma
ZL Olkowski, JR McLaren and KA Mansour
Patients with lung carcinoma were tested for number of circulating
thymus-derived (T-)lymphocytes and lymphocyte cytotoxicity before treatment
and following operation or radiation therapy or a combination of the two.
The proportion of circulating T-lymphocytes in healthy individuals was 75%,
and the T-lymphocyte level was 1, 460 per cubic millimeter. All patients
with lung cancer had a significantly decreased percentage and absolute
number of T-cells before any treatment. Patients tested six to eight weeks
following pneumonectomy or lobectomy showed an increased proportion of
circulating T-cells in comparison to pretreatment values. Functional
activity of immune lymphocytes as shown by cytotoxicity assay also improved
in comparison to pretreatment values. The potential value of tests for
immunocompetence is discussed.