EVALUATION OF PERIPHERAL BLOOD LYMPHOCYTE SUBPOPULATIONS IN STAGE D PROSTATIC CANCER PATIENTS

Abstract

Peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations both in 38 stage D prostatic cancer patients and in 20 age-matched healthy volunteers were analysed using monoclonal antibodies including OKT3, OKT4, OKT8, OKM1, Leu7 and Leulla.
In untreated stage D prostatic cancer patients, the proportion of OKT3⁺ cells and OKT4⁺ cells decreased, while the proportion of OKT8⁺ cells and Leu7⁺ cells increased significantly resulting in declined OKT4/OKT8 ratio. To determine whether hormone therapy including castration and administration of Estramustine phosphate (EMP) can alter peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations, we analysed them before and 3 to 4 weeks after hormone therapy. Although the serum level of prostatic acid phosphatase was significantly reduced 3 to 4 weeks after hormone therapy, there was no significant alteration in peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations either after castration or after a period of EMP administration.
These results suggest that quntitative changes in peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations may be one of the factors responsible for the immunosuppression in patients with stage D prostatic cancer patients.