Immunologic function in patients with carcinoma of the pancreas

The immune fuction of 41 patients with duct cell adenocarcinoma of the pancreas or carcinoma of the periampullary region was studied by skin testing with 2,4-dinitrocholorobenzene and common microbial antigens, in vitro lymphocyte reactivity to mitogens, T-lymphocyte and B-lymphocyte cell counts and measurements of complement levels. Results show that a great proportion of patients had depressed immune function. Depression is particularly severe in lymphocyte reactivity. Positive response to skin tests with a microbial antigen carries a slightly better prognosis. The complement level is usually normal or elevated. Correlation between immune function, prognosis and tumor resectability in individual patients is generally poor.