Total T lymphocytes in primary bronchial carcinoma.

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Abstract
Percentage and absolute levels of circulating T [thymus-derived] lymphocytes were measured in 48 patients with bronchial carcinoma. These were compared with control values from 9 healthy adults and 19 age-matched patients with benign disorders. A further 20 patients who were given postoperative immunotherapy after complete resection of bronchial carcinoma were also studied. There was no significant difference in the mean percentage T cells between the groups. Lymphopenia was a feature of the bronchial cancer patients with metastatic disease. This resulted in a significant diminution of absolute T cells in this group. There is no evidence, with the technique employed in this study, of a total T-cell deficiency in early bronhcial carcinoma.