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Immunosuppression by 5‐fluorouracil
Author(s) -
Mitchell Malcolm S.,
Deconti Ronald C.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197010)26:4<884::aid-cncr2820260422>3.0.co;2-s
Subject(s) - medicine , immunosuppression , toxoid , reversion , tetanus , immune system , immunology , antigen , delayed hypersensitivity , antibody , gastroenterology , dermatology , immunization , vaccination , biochemistry , chemistry , gene , phenotype
Twelve patients with neoplasia undergoing therpay with 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) were immunized with Escherichia coli Vi antigen and tetanus toxoid to test the primary and secondary humoral immune responses. Skin sesitization was attempted with 2,4‐dinitrochlorobenzene, and a battery of conmon microbial skin tests were applied during and after therapy. Eight of 10 patients failed to demonstrate a primary response the responders made only mercaptoethanol‐sensitive, presumably IgM, antibody the secondary response was compl, etely inhibited in 4 of 9 patients and delayed until 10 days after cessation of drug in the otghers. Five of 6 patients tested failed to achieve hypersensitivity to DNCB. Three of 6 patients showed reversion to positive of one or more skin tests after therapy. This last somewhat unexpected finding may have reflected weakened skin reactivity in these patients with very limited life expectancy in contrast to its variable effectiveness in rodents, 5‐FU was confirmed to be a potent immunosuppressive agents in man.