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Number of helper T cells and phytohemagglutinin stimulation correlate in cancer patients

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Summary

Mononuclear cells from 12 normal controls (co), 10 advanced untreated (c1), and 6 advanced treated cancer patients (c2) have been isolated. The numbers of mononuclear cells bearing Leu1, Leu2, Leu3, Leu2/HLA-DR and LeuM3 were measured with a fluorescence-activated cell sorter. Only the quantity of helper T cells (Leu3) was decreased in cancer patients (co: 0.89, c1: 0.32, c2: 0.44 × 109/1). Expression of all other markers, including activated suppressor T cells (Leu2/HLA-DR), did not differ significantly from the control. The proliferation of the lymphocytes was determined in a phytohemagglutininculture assay. The cancer groups showed a significantly decreased response (co: 95.8 × 109, cl: 28.7 × 109, c2: 25.7 × 109 cpm). These values correlated with the number of helper T cells but not with the suppressor T cells. Monocytes of cancer patients adsorbed significantly more immunoglobulins than the monocytes of controls. The addition of indomethacin or isoprinosine to phytohemagglutinin-culture assay increased the proliferation of lymphocytes from both the cancer patients and normal controls.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neoplastic Diseases, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 1 Gustave Levy Place, 10 029, New York, NY, USA

    Juerg Richner, Edward P. Ambinder, Kenneth Hoffmann, Eric J. Feuer & George Bekesi

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  1. Juerg Richner
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  2. Edward P. Ambinder
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  3. Kenneth Hoffmann
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  4. Eric J. Feuer
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  5. George Bekesi
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Supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation

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Richner, J., Ambinder, E.P., Hoffmann, K. et al. Number of helper T cells and phytohemagglutinin stimulation correlate in cancer patients. Cancer Immunol Immunother 34, 138–142 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01741349

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01741349

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