[Characterization of lymphoid cells by monoclonal antibodies in patients with gynecologic carcinomas]

Lymphoid subsets in the venous blood of 109 patients with various gynecologic malignancies were determined by monoclonal antibodies and compared with the results of 92 women without malignant disease. The patients were followed up for one year to study the influence of therapy on lymphoid cells. The results before treatment showed little difference between the two groups. In stage III and IV, total lymphocyte counts and OKT3+, OKT4+, OKT8+ and OKM1+ subsets were significantly lower compared with stage I and II. Radiation therapy caused a significant and long-lasting decrease of nearly all lymphoid cells. Patients who relapsed or died during the observation period had significantly diminished levels of OKT3- and OKT8-positive cells before treatment.