Effects of irradiation on the immune function in patients with mammary, pulmonary or head and neck carcinoma

The immune functions in patients with mammary, pulmonary, or head and neck tumors were investigated after irradiation. The treatment caused an initial lymphopenia and longlasting depression in the lymphocyte proliferative responses to PHA, Con A and PPD. The percentages and the ratio of E and EAC rosette forming cells remained unchanged.