[Cellular immunity in breast cancer patients]

84 breast cancer patients were examined prior to surgery regarding cellular immunity. 47 patients were free from secondary tumors, 37 already had axillary lymph node metastases, but no other secondary growth. 37 healthy women formed a control group. With reference to the total leukocyte count and to the percentage of T cells in the total lymphocyte count, there was no difference between the control group and the cancer patients. The latter, however, showed a significantly increased lymphocyte count compared with that of the control group. Despite an increase in the number of lymphocytes in cancer patients, there was a significant decrease in their ability to be stimulated by concanavalin A. In breast cancer patients with regional metastases the ability to be stimulated by phytohemagglutinin was decreased, too.