EFFECT OF DIETHYLSTILBOESTROL DIPHOSPHATE ON LYMPHOCYTIC BLASTOGENESIS

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Abstract
Oestrogens may, depending upon the nature of the neoplastic tissue, modulate the growth or regression of tumour cells (Huggins, 1967) and have been observed to result in histological alterations of lymphoid tissue, particularly the disappearance of small lymphocytes (Batchelor, 1971). However, effects of oestrogen therapy, notably in the treatment of patients with hormonally-dependent tumours, e.g. of the breast and prostate (Huggins, 1967), on the immunological responsiveness of the host to malignancy have not been delineated. Recently, Ablin (1974) alluded to the possibility that, as the administration of oestrogen results in a generalized stimulation of reticuloendothelial activity (Magarey & Baum, 1971) leading to what appears to be enhancement of antibody production in the blood and suppression of cellmediated hypersensitivity reactions, the heretofore palliative effects of hormonal therapy may reduce the surveillance efficiency of the immunological responsiveness of the host. In view of the close association between the in-vitro reactivity of thymic

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