Number of helper T cells and phytohemagglutinin stimulation correlate in cancer patients

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Abstract
Mononuclear cells from 12 normal controls (co), 10 advanced untreated (c1), and 6 advanced treated cancer patients (c2) have been isolated. The numbers of mononuclear cells bearing Leu1, Leu2, Leu3, Leu2/HLA-DR and LeuM3 were measured with a fluorescence-activated cell sorter. Only the quantity of helper T cells (Leu3) was decreased in cancer patients (co: 0.89, c1: 0.32, c2: 0.44 × 109/1). Expression of all other markers, including activated suppressor T cells (Leu2/HLA-DR), did not differ significantly from the control. The proliferation of the lymphocytes was determined in a phytohemagglutininculture assay. The cancer groups showed a significantly decreased response (co: 95.8 × 109, cl: 28.7 × 109, c2: 25.7 × 109 cpm). These values correlated with the number of helper T cells but not with the suppressor T cells. Monocytes of cancer patients adsorbed significantly more immunoglobulins than the monocytes of controls. The addition of indomethacin or isoprinosine to phytohemagglutinin-culture assay increased the proliferation of lymphocytes from both the cancer patients and normal controls.