In vitro cell-mediated immune reactivity in colon cancer patients

147 colon and/or rectum cancer patients in all clinical stages (according to TNM classification) aged 34 to 71 years were studied before radical surgery and 14, 45 and 90 days after it. The in vitro cell-mediated immunity was evaluated using the blastogenic transformation of blood lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), fast and total E rosettes. The immunosuppression observed in all clinical stages in comparison to donors becomes deeper 14 days after operation. 45 and 90 days after operation all three parameters studied increase but only in the clinical stage II (localized disease), the values reach and even surpass their initial level. Based on the obtained data conclusions were made in regard to the correlation of the lymphocyte functions to the clinical stage. In the localized (disseminated) stages a good (bad) ability of the immune system to recover is suggested.