Significance of tumour mass on T-lymphocyte levels in patients with gastrointestinal cancer.

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Abstract
The relationship between tumor load and immunity in gastrointestinal cancer has been studied by sequential comparison in patients whose tumor was removed and those whose tumor was found to be inoperable. Total lymphocyte count, absolute and percentage T [thymus-derived] and B [bone marrow-derived] lymphocyte counts, effect of papain on E-rosetting cells levels, and inhibitory effect of cancer sera on E[erythrocyte]-rosette formation by normal lymphocytes have been studied in 30 patients with stomach or colorectal cancer and 10 control patients with benign gastrointestinal disease. The examination was done on each patient before and after operation at regular intervals up to 24 wk. Operable cases, with removal of tumor load, showed a temporary fall in total lymphocyte count and T cell counts, which returned to normal by 4 wk postoperatively. Inoperable cases (15 patients) showed a progressive fall in total lymphocyte count and a relatively greater depression of T cell counts, in parallel with increasing tumor mass. E-receptor blocking factor was demonstrated in the sera of cancer patients. This factor was related to tumor mass and presumably was of tumor origin, as it persisted in the inoperable group but disappeared by 12 wk after tumor removal. The factor explained the excess depression of T cells over total lymphocytes, but does not explain the continuing depression of total lymphocyte count in the cancer patients.