Lack of Correlation between Skin Reactivity to Dinitrochlorobenzene and Croton Oil in Patients with Cancer

AN intact cellular immune response is a favorable prognostic sign in patients with cancer. Depressed cellular immunity usually indicates a poor prognosis. One manifestation associated with depressed cellular immunity in such patients is their inability to become sensitized to dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), a contact allergen.1 2 3 4 5 It has been shown that response to DNCB often correlates with the clinical course in such patients who have been operated on.2 , 3 Furthermore, a relation between DNCB reactivity and stage of disease has been demonstrated.1 , 4 DNCB sensitization as a test for intact cellular immunity offers several advantages: very few patients with cancer have been exposed to . . .