Effects of therapies of cervical cancer on the count and function of peripheral lymphocytes

In 57 patients with stage I b cervical cancer, treated by three different methods, the total lymphocyte count, T- and B-cell counts and PHA-induced lymphocyte blast transformation were determined before and immediately after overall treatment as well as at 6-month intervals till 2.5 years after treatment. Exclusively applied radiotherapy caused, in stage I b cervical cancer patients a slight decrease in the total lymphocyte and T-cell counts, which disappeared at 3-6 months after treatment, as well as a very significant drop in the B-cell count, persisting even 2.5 years after treatment. The combined method comprising brachytherapy and surgery proved to least damage the non-specific cell-mediated immunity, whereas the method combining brachy- and teletherapy with surgery exerted the most harmful effect on this immunity. All three therapeutic methods compared led to a significant long-term decrease in the circulating B-cell count. It seems that whereas the operative procedure did not influence the cell-mediated immunity, it intensified the brachytherapy-caused decrease in the B-cell count.