Anergy and tryptophan metabolism in bladder cancer

The tryptophan loading test and cutaneous antigen test were done on 55 patients with various stages of bladder cancer. Patients with an abnormality of tryptophan metabolism showed a greater degree of unreactivity to cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity testing. Of the 23 patients with normal tryptophan metabolism 47 per cent were unreactive to 2 or 3 skin antigens. Of 13 patients with 1 abnormal tryptophan metabolite 62 per cent were unreactive to 2 or 3 skin antigens. Of 19 patients with 2 or more abnormal tryptophan metabolites 68 per cent were unreactive to 2 or 3 antigens.