Blood lymphocyte population 4 to 6 years after adjuvant cyclic chemotherapy for operable breast carcinoma

The influence of postoperative cyclic chemotherapy for breast carcinoma on the blood lymphocyte population was examined in 21 recurrence-free women 4 to 6 years after completion of therapy. Chemotherapy consisted of combinations of chlorambucil, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil or cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil. It was observed that the lymphocyte numbers and mitogenic responses to PHA and in an MLC, known to be depressed during and shortly after treatment, had recovered to the levels of healthy age-matched women. NK activity, which is increased during the period of chemotherapy, still remained elevated.