Recovery of lymphocyte function after radiation therapy for cancer in relationship to prognosis

The number and functional abilities of lymphocytes from patients with either breast cancer or cervical cancer were assessed before, during and after radiation therapy given to treat the disease and the patients were followed for several years. Radiation depleted both T and B cells and depressed the responses to PHA and Con-A in all patients groups. The response to mitogens in the weeks immediately following radiation therapy was greater in patients whose disease did not recur and was depressed for a much longer time in patients whose disease recurred within the next few years. This difference was most clearly reflected in the ratio of mitogen response to the number of T-cells. The relationship of responsive to non-responsive or suppressor lymphocytes in the weeks following radiation therapy may be a clue to prognosis.