[Comparative analysis of immune response indices in lung cancer]

In 43 patients with cancer of the lung, a number of immunologic indexes were evaluated including lymphocyte response to PHA, lymphokine production, serum immunoglobulin levels and the regulatory effect of sera and T-lymphocytes on lymphokine production. No significant deficiency in T- and B-lymphocytes was registered in patients with stage I-III cancer, nor any rise in TG cell level was in evidence. The response to PHA was low; however, the capacity to produce lymphokines in the presence of allogeneic or autologous tumor antigens was unimpaired. Purified T- and TG-cells isolated from blood or tumor tissue suppressed immune response in leukocyte migration inhibition test. However, this effect was not related to the increase in levels of these cells in the circulation. The autologous sera of practically all tumor-sensitized patients exerted a blocking effect in vitro. This effect was related neither to levels of serum immunoglobulins, nor to those of blood TG cells.