ABNORMALITIES OF LYMPHOCYTE TRANSFORMATIONS IN WOMEN WITH INTRA-EPITHELIAL CARCINOMA OF VULVA

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 52  (3) , 332-336
Abstract
Cellular immunity of the delayed type in women with intraepithelial carcinoma (carcinoma in situ) of the vulva was investigated by an in vitro assay of mitogen-induced lymphocyte transformations. Test results from 9 patients were compared to those of 23 age-matched control subjects. Lymphocyte transformation responses in counts per minute were significantly lower for women with carcinoma in situ of the vulva than for control subjects for phytohemagglutinin-P (at 50 .mu.g/ml), 6238 and 28,102 (P < 0.0001); for phytohemagglutinin-P (at 165 .mu.g/ml), 7222 and 21,417 (P < 0.001); for concanavalin A, 14,988 and 41,888 (P < 0.0001); and pokeweed mitogen, 20,861 and 49,601 (P < 0.001). No significant differences in lymphocyte transformations were noted between these 2 groups to the specific antigens, Candida or streptokinase-streptodornase. Four patients with carcinoma in situ of the vulva also had intraepithelial carcinoma of the cervix and/or vagina. The occurrence and clinical course of carcinoma in situ of the vulva in some women may be related to an underlying defect in cellular immunity. Immunosuppression may also explain the frequent association noted between carcinoma of the vulva and the development of other malignant neoplasms.

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