[The natural killer blood count in patients with breast, colon and rectal cancers]

Blood level of large granular cells was assayed in patients suffering cancer of the breast (30), colon (13) and rectum (34) at various stages of the disease. This level in cancer patients was half as much that in healthy controls. Procedures employed for treatment of the above pathologies were shown to contribute to inhibition of peripheral blood spontaneous cytotoxicity. This makes the case for immunocorrection. The cytologic method of identification of large granular lymphocytes may be used to monitor cell-mediated antitumor immunity in breast and colorectal cancer patients in the course and after treatment and, therefore, serve the diagnosis of recurrence and metastasis.