Immunological significance of lymphoreticular infiltration in gastrointestinal cancer

The 60 patients of gastrointestinal cancer comprising this study were in the age range of 29--70 years with 39 males and 21 females. The primary sites of cancer were: gallbladder 19, colon 13, stomach 12, anorectum 8, and liver 8. The stage of tumor spread was localized in 32 and metastatic in 28 cases. Round cell infiltration scores were classified semiquantitatively from O-V. Cellular immunity as expressed by the blood lymphocyte count and DNCB reactivity was also studied. Round cell infiltration was dense in the localized group (P less than 0.0005). The mean lymphocyte counts in all the primary sites of gastrointestinal cancer were significantly higher in the localized group as compared to metastatic group. The DNCB reactivity showed anergy in six cases and poor response in the remaining 22 cases of metastatic group. There was a statistically significant correlation between lymphoreticular infiltration, peripheral blood lymphocyte count, and the DNCB reactivity. Diminished round cell infiltration, lymphopenia, and depressed DNCB response indicate an advanced stage of gastrointestinal cancer.