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Biomedical subjects

D E Hoyle

Publications and source records attributed to D E Hoyle.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

An examination of the immunology of cancer patients.

We have examined 111 cancer patients and 111 control individuals for general immunocompetence (haematological values, "recall" antigen skin tests, PHA and PPD induced lymphocyte transformation, serum Ig levels and lymphocyte subpopulations), for evidence of sensitisation to tumour-associated antigens (leucocyte migration test, serum inhibition of autologous leucocyte migration, lymphocytotoxicity, membrane immunofluorescence and immune adherence) and for evidence of continuing immune reactions (alterations of complement components and anticomplementary activity). Major differences between the cancer patients and controls were demonstrated by several tests of sensitisation and these also detected differences between patients with and without metastases. The only differences detected between cancer patients and controls by the tests of general immunocompetence were in serum IgG and IgA (higher in the cancer patients) and lymphocyte subpopulations ("active" T, autorosetting lymphocytes and lymphocytes forming "super-rosettes" increased in cancer patients). In a comparison of cancer patients with and without metastases, patients with metastases were less often reactive to the Candida DHS and streptokinase-streptodornase antigens and had raised circulating Fc positive cells. Abnormalities of the individual components of complement occurred in about half the cancer patients, but were equally common in those with and without metastases. Serum anti-complementary activity was very rarely detected. The tests of specific sensitisation correlated reasonably well but correlations of tests of general immunocompetence were infrequent.

Adolescent↗

Formalinized tumour cells in the leucocyte migration inhibition test.

Immunization studies indicate that formalinized tumour cells retain at least part of their gross membrane structure and antigenicity; they are relatively easy to prepare and store well over a period of months. We have used formalinized tumour cells as antigen in the leucocyte migration inhibition test. Leucocyte migration inhibition occurred in leucocytes from thirty-eight out of sixty-nine malignant melanoma patients and from fifty-five out of eight-one breast cancer patients when in contact with formalinized tumour cells of a histologically similar type. Melanoma patients' and breast cancer patients' leucocytes were infrequently inhibited on contact with cells from histologically dissimilar human tumours and from xenogeneic mouse melanomas. Other advantages of formalinized cells over antigens prepared by homogenizing tumour tissue include a greater degree of inhibition and the ability to demonstrate a dose-response relationship between the ratio of leucocytes:tumour cells and the migration index.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗