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Delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity, lymphocyte count, and blood tests in patients with breast carcinoma
Author(s) -
Lee YeuTsu N.Margaret
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.2930270302
Subject(s) - medicine , delayed hypersensitivity , antigen , lymphocyte , immunocompetence , immunology , breast cancer , carcinoma , breast carcinoma , cancer , immune system
General immunocompetence was examined in 125 patients with various stages of breast cancer. Tests include peripheral blood lymphocyte count, serum protein electrophoresis, quantitative immunoglobulins, CEA level, and delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity (DCH) reaction to six recall antigens (PPD, Monilia, mumps, Varidase, histoplasmin, and coccidioidin). About one third of the patients responded positively to each of the first four antigens, whereas 12% reacted to histoplasmin and 4% to coccidioidin. In this study, DCH to recall antigens had no prognostic value because the distributions of skin test reactivity were similar among patients with different stages of breast carcinoma. And among patients with similar stage of disease the relapse rates were similar for those who reacted and those who were anergic. But peripheral lymphocyte count had definite prognostic value because patients with advanced stage (group III/IV) and those who were anergic had significantly lower lymphocyte counts. Among patients with relatively early stages of breast carcinoma (group I/II), those who had higher lymphocyte count (≧ 2,000/mm 3 ) had lower chance of having relapse up to 5 years after mastectomy.