Cell-mediated immunity in patients with cervical cancer

In 16 patients with cervical carcinoma (stages II and III) tumor-specific and general immune reactivity was investigated. Cancer patients' skin reactivity was different from that of controls insofar as there was a decreased response to streptokinase-streptodornase as well as to DNCB. Absence of DNCB sensitization was mainly in stage III patients. Cell-mediated immunity to autologous and/or allogeneic tumor-associated antigens (TAA) was demonstrated in vivo and in vitro. 3 of 8 patients had positive skin reactions to autologous TAA and 8 of 14 reacted to allogeneic TAA. In the lymphocyte migration inhibition test, 8 of 14 patients reacted to autologous tumor membrane preparations and 3 of 10 to allogeneic pooled preparations. In addition, there was some indication of cross-reaction with antigens from a human squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. There was no reaction in vitro to normal cervical tissue and no association between tumor-specific reactions and herpes simplex virus type II antibodies could be demonstrated. Patients with DNCB sensitization and in vivo as well as in vitro lymphocyte reactivity to TAA had a better prognosis than nonreacting patients, indicating the value of combined immunological tests.