The immune reactivity of 50 patients with solid tumors before therapeutic treatment and 26 healthy controls was assessed by both in vitro and in vivo tests. No significant differences between controls and patients were found in peripheral lymphocyte counts or in delayed hypersensitivity to recall antigens. However, impairment of lymphocyte stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and a decrease in the number of E-rosette forming cells (E-RFC) were detected in cancer-bearing patients irrespective of tumor type. The results of the present study further confirm the usefulness of the PHA and E-RFC tests in monitoring the immune competence of cancer patients.
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