The effects of radiotherapy on the immune system of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

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Abstract
We report on 123 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma whose immune statuswas measured at the time of diagnosis, the day radiotherapy was completed, and then 2–3 months and 6–8 months after completion of radiotherapy. Immunological tests performed included the lymphocyte transformation test, the erythrocyte-rosette formation test (ERFT), the 29°C erythrocyte-rosette formation test (29°C ERFT), lymphocyte counts (lymphocytes/mm3and percentage of lymphocytes), levels of serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM), complement (C3) and circulating immune complexes (CIC), the antinuclear antibody test and a skin test using phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). There were statistically significant differences in all tests (except C3) between patients and normal controls. Marked differences were seen in the lymphocyte count, ERFT, and 29°C ERFT after radiotherapy (p<0.01). The diameters of induration of the PHA skin tests were less than those before radiotherapy (p<0.01). There were higher incidences of recurrence and metastases in the patients with high levels of CIC and low numbers of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood after radiotherapy. Cellular immunity remained at a low level 8 months after radiotherapy.