[Quantitative and functional characteristics of T-lymphocytes and monocytes in lymphosarcoma patients at various...

IKO monoclonal antibodies were used to study peripheral blood mononuclear types in 92 patients with various histomorphological types of diffuse lymphosarcoma at various stages of tumorous process. Absolute counts of CD7 and CD5 cells (T cells) were found reducing as was CD4 cell (T helpers) level as the disease progressed. CD8 cell (T suppressors) count reliably increased only in the phase of lymphoblastic lymphosarcoma leukemic degeneration. A group of patients with stage IV lymphoblastic lymphosarcoma was detected with drastically increased counts of mononuclears carrying mature T cell markers. Clinical course of the disease in these patients was characterized by the highest malignancy degree and metastatic involvement of the central nervous system. Examination of peripheral blood monocyte/macrophage ratio in the same patient population (n = 26) revealed reduced Fc receptor expression, EA phagocytosis, and increased levels of circulating immune complexes, these shifts augmenting with the tumor progress. The results may be valuable for prediction of lymphosarcoma course and for immunocorrection.