Neutrophil and monocyte phagocytic functions in patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma during fluorouracil therapy

Neutrophil and monocyte phagocytic functions, i.e % of phagocytic cells, ingestion and intracellular microbe killing were determined in 51 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma, 43 with localized disease and 8 with distant metastases. Phagocytic functions were determined at the time of diagnosis, following surgery are before each of 6 cycles of fluorouracil chemotherapy. Four of six phagocytic parameters determined were decreased at diagnosis while all 6 decreased following surgery. During chemotherapy, neutrophil phagocytic activity recovered to normal value while all other neutrophil and monocyte functions remained decreased. Even so, neutrophil ingestion and monocyte phagocytic and bactericidal activities increased reaching from time to time values significantly higher than that found before the start of chemotherapy. The results showed significant alterations of neutrophil and monocyte phagocytosis in colorectal adenocarcinoma patients at the time of diagnosis, with further decrease following surgery. Fluorouracil chemotherapy did not exert suppressive effects on these functions; on the contrary, it seemed to support, or at least not to prevent, their partial recovery.