Enzymic and immunological activities of lymphocytes during chemical carcinogenesis

During chemical carcinogenesis in Wistar rats the activity of acid phosphatase and certain dehydrogenases in the blood lymphocytes was compared with the development of cellular immunity revealed by the macrophage migration inhibition test. In the early periods of carcinogenesis the changes in succinate dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase activity were shown to correspond to a high level of immunological reactivity of cellular type in 66% of the animals. During progressive growth of the tumors in the rats the enzyme balance in the lymphocytes was disturbed and, at the same time, the immunological response was depressed.