The lymphocyte locomotion assay in colon and breast cancer long survivors

Cell-mediated immunity versus tumour antigens (cytosols) of the same histotype and site was evaluated by means of the lymphocyte locomotion (LL) assay in 46 colorectal adenocarcinoma and 41 breast ductal infiltrating carcinoma patients 36-220 months after surgical resection. Lymphocyte locomotion positivity was observed in 27/46 (58.7%) and 27/41 (65.9%) patients, respectively. These results indicate that a high percentage of long survivors retain an immunologic memory of the tumour antigen to which they have been exposed.