cis-Platinum as adjunctive to surgery in early stage ovarian carcinoma: effects on lymphoid cell subpopulations

The effect of single-drug cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP) treatment on the distribution of T-lymphocyte subsets and monocytes was determined using monoclonal antibodies and a flow cytometry technique. Thirty-nine patients with radically operated ovarian carcinoma received postoperative treatment with six cycles of CDDP 50 mg/m2, and were examined either before, during, or after chemotherapy. During treatment, the number of OKT4+ (mainly T-helper) cells was reduced, whereas the number of OKT8+ (mainly T-suppressor/cytotoxic) cells was increased. Four to six months after the CDDP treatment was ended, these aberrations were no longer seen. The number of 1D5+ cells (monocytes) was not influenced by the treatment. It is concluded that no long-lasting change in the distribution of immunocompetent cells could be detected after this regimen of CDDP treatment.