[Lymphocytotoxic antibodies in cervical cancer]

Sera of 120 patients, suffering from cervical cancer (CCa) of different clinical stages (stage 0: n = 27; stage I: n = 29; stage II--IV: n = 64) as well as the sera of 116 healthy individuals as control group were examined for lymphocytoxic antibodies by microlymphocytotoxicity tests, variated in incubation temperatures (15 degress -- 22 degrees -- 37 degrees C) and incubation times (30--180 minutes). At an incubation temperature of 15 degrees C cold reacting lymphocytotoxic antibodies were detected in 26 patients' sera (21.7%) and in 13 control sera (11.2%). At an incubation temperature of 22 degrees C 36 CCa-sera (30%) were positive in comparison to 11 sera of the control group (9.5%). At an incubation 37 degrees C 40 CCa-sera (33.3%) and 7 control sera (6%) were positive. Relating these results to the clinical stages of the carcinoma, the highest percentage of lymphocytotoxicity was found in the sera of patients with an early stage of the disease. Increased evidence of lymphocytotoxic antibodies in the sera of patients with cervical carcinoma supports the assumption, that various immune reactions may be involved in this disease.