Macrophage precursors in ovarian carcinoma

Monocyte differentiation into macrophage was measured in 21 patients with ovarian carcinoma and 34 normal age-matched controls as a test of peripheral blood monocyte function. Monocyte to macrophage maturation in vitro was significantly decreased in patients with Stage III ovarian carcinoma. Studies using normal cells with normal sera in criss-cross investigations with cancer patients' cells and cancer patients' sera suggest that both a cellular defect and a serum factor are involved. Administration of intradermal Corynebacterum parvum to a volunteer induced increased monocyte maturation.