Lymphocyte reactivity in cancer patients: Correlation with tumor histology and clinical stage

The in vitro reactivity of peripheral blood lymphocytes and the effect of serum on normal lymphocyte reactivity was determined in 89 patients with non‐lymphoid tumors by quantitation of phytohemagglutinin (PHA)‐induced tritiated thymidine incorporation. The reactivity of lymphocytes from patients with sarcomas and squamous carcinomas was impaired, and their sera suppressed normal lymphocyte reactivity. The cellular and serum abnormalities coexisted in patients with sarcomas but occurred independently in patients with squamous carcinomas. Patients with melanomas and adenocarcinomas did not differ from controls by these parameters. With the exception of patients with melanomas, a similar incidence of abnormalities occurred in patients with localized tumors and those with metastases. These data indicate that this test system assays certain early and tumor histology‐related aspects of the hosttumor relationship and is potentially useful for the study of factors associated with development of cancer and monitoring effect of tumor treatment.