[Comparison of metabolic and immunologic indices in breast cancer]

A correlation was made between the complex of metabolic indices (the concentration of free fatty acids, cholesterol, beta-lipoproteids and triglycerids in blood) and the complex of immunological indices (the number of T-lymphocytes, blastogenic reaction of lymphocytes, lysosomal and phagocytic activity of macrophages) in healthy females of two age groups and in breast cancer patients. There were examined 20 healthy females aged 18-29, 19 healthy females aged 40-78 and 37 primary breast cancer patients, and also 30 patients being in the state of remission after the radical treatment, their age was analogous to that of the second control age group. It was stated that healthy females with age show a parallel worsening of metabolic and immunological indices (the correlation coefficient being equal to -0.57 and -0.56 accordingly (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.02) that corresponds to the phenomenon of metabolic immunodepression. The same phenomenon is observed in breast cancer patients at the stage of clinical remission (r = 0.42, P = 0.02). Contrary, in primary patients despite analogously decreased immunity the correlation coefficient was -0.23. Consequently, the mechanism of immunosuppressive effect of the tumor seems not to be related to the changed concentration in blood of the indices under study.