肺癌患者末梢血リンパ球における免疫インターフェロン産生能の検討

抄録

We examined immune interferon production by peripheral blood lymphocytes as one of the parameters of cellular immunity in patients with lung cancer. Immune interferon production by cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes was measured in 50 untreated patients with lung cancer and 17 normal subjects by the use of mitogens (PPD, PHA, ConA, and PWM). In addition, PPD skin test, T-cell number, and lymphpcyte blastogenesis against ConA were investigated.
The interferon titer in patients with lung cancer was significantly lower than that in normal subjects. The PPD skin test correlated well with the interferon titer. No correlation was found between the interferon titer and T-cell number or ConA-stimulated blastogenesis. The clinical course in patients with lung cancer correlated well with interferon production.
In conclusion, we think that measurement of immune interferon production by peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with lung cancer is useful for the assessment of cellular immunity and clinical prognosis.