Abstract
To evaluate the immune reactivity of the patients with cancer, peripheral lymphocytes, lymphcyte subsets, and natural killer cell activity (NK activity) were determined in 97 cancer patients, and their stages, performance status (PS), and nutritional status were comparativery studied.
A significant low level of NK activity was noted in stage IV patients, NK activity was decreased with advanced PS. It was significantly low at PS 3 and 4. A good coorelation between nutritional status and NK activity was observed, and a significantly decreased NK activity was noted in oligotrophia.
Among lymphcyte subsets, OKT 3 and 4 were significantly higher in stage i and PS1, and OKT8 appeared to increase with more advanced stage and PS. The OKT 4/OKT8 did not show significant difference depending on stages, however, tended to decrease with advanced PS.
It was suggested that NK activity reflects the condition of a cancer patient. Especially the good coorelation with nutrition was impressive. Though a certain tendency has been noted in the ratio of lymphcyte subsets, it appears to lack as good a coorelation as that in NK activity.
