Abstract
The antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) assay was used as a sensitive Instrument to study If specific antibodies acting synergistically with lymphocytes to Induce target cell destruction, could be detected in sera from patients with cervical carcinoma. Significant cytotoxicity to herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2) Infected target cells was observed in sera of 17 out of 23 (74%) surviving patients with cervical cancer who were followed with at least two serum samples. A rise In cytolytic activity was also observed In 11 out of 23 cases. Seven out of 14 tumor-bearing cervical cancer patients with progressing cervical lesions showed significant cytotoxicity, but four of the seven had lost activity In later sera. When 43 patients surviving the observation period of 24–60 months with no signs of residual tumors were compared with 23 severely III cervical cancer patients, patients with less advanced cancer had significantly higher cytolytic activity.