LOW NATURAL CYTO-TOXICITY OF PERIPHERAL-BLOOD MONONUCLEAR-CELLS IN INDIVIDUALS WITH HIGH FAMILIAL INCIDENCES OF CANCER

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 44  (1) , 370-374
Abstract
The possible role that natural cell-mediated cytotoxicity may play as a host defense mechanism against malignant tumors was investigated. Natural cell-mediated cytotoxicity (51Cr released) was measured in 79 normal individuals using [human] K562 leukemia cells as targets in quadruplicate assays after 3, 4 and 5 h of incubation using 3 different effector:target cell ratios (6.2:1, 25:1 and 50:1). Natural cell-mediated cytotoxicity was significantly lower (P < 0.005) in each of the 9 separate assay conditions for individuals with a high familial incidence of cancer compared to individuals with a low incidence of cancer. Natural cell-mediated cytotoxicity inversely correlated with the number of family members with cancer. The relationship between high familial cancer incidence and low natural cell-mediated cytotoxicity was observed in males as well as in females and in nonsmokers as well as in smokers. The same conclusion was reached whether the data were expressed as percentage of 51Cr released, as lytic units/107 mononuclear cells, or as lytic units/ml of peripheral blood. Defects in natural cell-mediated cytotoxicity may play a role in the initial stages of human tumorigenesis. It may also be possible to identify individuals at increased risk of cancer development.

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