RADIOSENSITIVE, THYMIC HORMONE-SENSITIVE PERIPHERAL-BLOOD SUPPRESSOR CELL-ACTIVITY IN CANCER-PATIENTS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 40  (9) , 3134-3140
Abstract
Suppressor cell activity which was radiosensitive in most subjects and thymic hormone sensitive in some was identified in patients with cancer, and compared to normal controls. Suppressor cell activity was measured in cocultures of normal lymphocytes with patient lymphocytes added in microwells using the blastogenic response to phytohemagglutinin [PHA] and concanavalin [con] A as the measure of activity. Thirty-five patients (lung cancer, 21; leukemia in remission, 7 and various solid tumors, 7) and an equal number of controls were studied. Suppressor cell activity was identified in 71% of the patients. In .apprx. 75% of these, the suppressor cell activity was radiosensitive (4000-6000 rads). For the PHA response, suppressor cell activity was thymic hormone sensitive in .apprx. 40% (thymosin fraction 5 or thymic humoral factor), and for the con A response, it was thymic hormone sensitive in .apprx. 25% of the cases. There was a significant correlation between the presence of immunodeficiency (defined as a PHA response < 35,000 or a con A response < 12,000 cpm) and the presence of the suppressor cell activity. The suppressor cell activity was heterogenous relative to its radiosensitivity and thymic hormone sensitivity. Suppressor cell activity was observed in all the patient categories. Certain available therapeutic manipulations may have significant effects on suppressor cell activity and should be an important subject for further investigation.