Cell reaction to concanavalin A in cancer patients

The method of skin window was used in the investigation of cell reaction of healthy volunteers (25 persons) and patients with malignant melanoma (12 cases), breast cancer (18 cases), and with various malignant lymphomas (6 cases) to a local application of the lectin Concanavalin A (Con A, concentration of 10 mg/ml of saline, 0.02 ml per scarification). The obtained results were compared with cell reaction after the application of saline alone. Correlation between cell reaction and clinical state of patients was studied as well. No significant difference in the amount of lymphocytes after the application of Con A was observed between the group of healthy individuals and the group of patients with malignant tumors. On the contrary, the reaction of neutrophil granulocytes to Con A was significantly lower in cancer patients than in healthy volunteers. After the application of Con A, all preparations showed a higher absolute amount of all cells. Con A induced a significant increase in the amount of lymphocytes in patients after therapy and in poor clinical state. The persons with good clinical state reacted by a slight increase or decrease in the number of lymphocytes to the application of lectin.