[Reversible erythrocyte aggregation in cancer patients]

Reversible aggregation of the peripheral blood erythrocytes was studied in patients with stages III-IV lung cancer and patients with stages II-III tumors of the head and neck (cancer of the tongue, larynx, and buccal mucosa). The parameters examined were as follows: U0 and Ud--minimal and maximal stability of aggregates, tau---red cell aggregation half-period, A--the amplitude of photometric signal (in mm) characterizing the count of erythrocytes, Ia--aggregation index, and K--integral coefficient. The findings indicate an appreciable intensification of reversible aggregation of red cells in cancer: a significant increase of U0, Ud, A, Ia, and K and decrease of tau.