[Effect of CDDP administration on NK activity of human peripheral lymphocytes and its modification by corticosteroid...

The effect of cDDP (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum) on NK (natural killer) activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes in 12 patients (7 primary lung cancer, 3 metastatic pulmonary tumor and 2 malignant mediastinal tumor) was examined with emphasis on the combination of corticosteroid. To all patients, 80 mg/m2 of CDDP was administered intravenously every 3 weeks. Four patients were treated with CDDP alone, and 8 patients received 375 mg of methylprednisolone on the same day of CDDP administration and 125 mg on each of following consecutive 5 days respectively. 1) NK activity was not suppressed for 3 weeks after CDDP administration, in the group of 4 patients without receiving corticosteroid. 2) Significant NK suppression was found 1 week after CDDP administration, and recovered 2 weeks later, in the group of 8 patients who were treated for their emesis by corticosteroid. It can be concluded that 80 mg/m2 of CDDP does not reduce NK activity at all. However, the additional administration of corticosteroid strongly inhibited NK activity. Therefore, one should be very careful when combines the corticosteroid in order to relieve emesis induced by CDDP treatment, even if it has some antiemetic effect.