[Selected immunologic indicators in malignant bone tumors]

In patients with the malignant tumor of bone (17 osteosarcomas, 8 Ewing tumors) longterm observations were made, and namely at the beginning of the disease, after the surgical removal of the tumor, during chemotherapy and in the terminal phase of the disease. The observations concentrated on the following selected immunology parameters: active lymphocytes T, lymphocytes T, lymphocytes B, large granular lymphocytes, IgG, IgA, IgM and circulating immune complexes. In non-treated patients prior to diagnosing the disease, reduction of active lymphocytes T was found out while the total lymphocytes T remained unchanged. However, no significant differences were found out between benign and malignant tumors. The surgical removal of the tumor results in the change in imunologic indicators, the increase of active lyphocytes T, lymphocytes T and the decrease in the circulating immune complexes. The change is of temporary nature, the subsequent deterioration is caused by both the progression of the disease and chemotherapy. The values of immunoglobulins and lymphocytes B fluctuated during the whole course of the disease in physiological levels. The observation of active lymphocytes T and lymphocytes T can be used for monitoring of the immunosuppression in cytostatic treatment. The levl of IgG is differentially diagnostically used to distinguish between the tumor and inflammatory processes.