Cellular immune competence in patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

Immunological profile of patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

The immunological profile of 58 patients with various stages of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder was determined by using the local xenogeneic graft versus host reaction (GVHR) test, by skin testing with 3 recall antigens (candida, trichophyton, streptokinase-streptodornase) and by quantification of T-lymphocytes. Thirty-two patients with low grade low stage tumours (Group A) showed only a slight impairment of the immunological profile with a slight decrease in T-lymphocytes, 4.4% negative GVHR tests and 31.2% negative skin tests. Ten patients with highly invasive inoperable tumours (Group B) showed a severe impairment of the immunological profile with a significant decrease in T-lymphocytes, 100% negative GVHR and 80% negative skin tests. A marked improvement in the immunological profile was noted while comparing 9 patients who were examined within 6 months after cystectomy (Group CI) (severe decrease in T-lymphocytes 44.4% negative GVHR tests and 66.6% negative skin tests) with 7 patients who were examined 18 months or more after operation (Group CII) (slight decrease in T-lymphocytes 0% negative GVHR and 42.8% negative skin tests). Incubation of T-lymphocytes with a thymic hormone (THF) caused an increase in the extent of the graft versus host reaction in 10 out of 14 patients with low grade low stage bladder tumours. This may represent an improvement in the functional activity of the T-lymphocytes with a possible therapeutic use in the future.

Immunobiology of primary intracranial tumors. Part 5: Correlation of a lymphocyte index and clinical status

Long-term assessment of general host immunocompetence of patients with primary malignant brain tumors indicates that although isolated determinations of nonspecific responsiveness are not clinically useful, sequential analyses utilizing a linear combination of in vitro lymphocyte probes are capable of predicting tumor recurrence prior to clinical deterioration.

Cell-mediated immunity in patients with mycosis fungoides in clinical remission: effect of thymic humoral factor on the immunocompetence of the lymphocytes

In 10 patients with mycosis fungoides (MF) who were in clinical remission following local treatment with nitrogen mustard, cell-mediated immunity was investigated by means of tests for lymphocytes, forming rosettes in the peripheral blood, and the graft-vs-host reaction as well as intradermal skin tests. The effect of thymic humoral factor (THF) on T lymphocytes with impaired immunecompetence was also investigated. The results provided evidence of various kinds of damage to the immunologic system in most of the patients. Of the 10 patients, 4 had low percentages of T cells. Eight of the 10 had a graft-vs.-host reaction which was weak or negative, and in 4 of these, the administration of THF to the lymphocytes induced an improvement in immunoreactivity. These results together with other recently reported data indicate that the determination of cell-mediated immunity in patients with MF may be of prognostic importance. Those patients whose T lymphocytes respond to treatment with THF are probably the best candidates for immunotherapy.