Immunologic monitoring of patients with small cell anaplastic carcinoma who are treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy

From January to October 1978 the diagnosis of small cell anaplastic carcinoma was made in 12 patients. Patients were treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy and were followed for 13 months. Before treatment lymphocyte stimulation (L.S.) and blood T and B lymphocytes were within normal range. Positive skin tests were observed in patients who had a large weight loss. After treatment, the number of lymphocytes dropped, but the T/B radio did not change. T lymphocyte function was impaired (decrease of LS with phytohemagglutinine but B lymphocyte function was normal (normal LS with Pockeweed Mitogen). The skin tests became negative after radiotherapy or when patients had a loss of body weight of more than 10%. In spite of its imprecision, skin tests appear to be the best to follow immunological Status. More sophisticated tests gave no supplementary information. Immunological status could not be related to prognosis.