Parameters of cellular immunity in subjects with bronchial squamous cell tumors

: We studied some cell mediated immunologic assay in a normal population and in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the bronchus. In cancer patients lymphocyte mitogen stimulation with PHA and PWM did not show any significant difference from normal population; PPD antigenic stimulation was lower in eight patients of ten. E-total rosette forming cells count was reduced, there was no difference in E-active rosette forming cells. Electrophoretic mobility of lymphocytes showed that a part of lymphocytes have a lower electrophoretic cell migration. Lymphocytes subpopulations isolated by E rosetting technique are different in cancer patients from subpopulations separated by electrophoresis; in controls similar subpopulations were obtained by the two methods. In cancer patients cell mediated immunity shows altered functions which is though not uniformly modified. We think that serum factors and cells with blocking action cause these effects rather than intrinsic changes of lymphocytes.