Transfer in vivo of tuberculin hypersensitivity by sensitised lymphocytes.

An account is given of the experimental in vivo transfer of PPD-specific delayed hypersensitivity with a very small number of autologous lymphocytes pre-sensitised with PPD-specific transfer factor (TF). Transfer was assessed in 17 volunteers both in vivo by means of the Mantoux skin reaction, and in vitro by means of the leukocyte migration inhibition test, the lymphocyte locomotion test, and the leukocyte adherence inhibition test. Positivization of the tests suggests that TF triggers a reaction which expands the effect of hypersensitivity.

Transfer in vitro of tubercolin hypersensitivity by sensitised lymphocytes.

An account is given of the experimental in vitro transfer of PPD-specific delayed hypersensitivity to peripheral leukocytes pulsed with a very small portion of autologous lymphocytes pre-sensitised with PPD-specific transfer factor (TF). Transfer was assessed by means of the leukocyte migration inhibition test, the lymphocyte locomotion test, and the leukocyte adherence inhibition test. These tests were positivized in all the experiments. It is suggested that these results indicate that TF does not act in itself, but triggers a reaction that expands the effect of hypersensitivity.

The lymphocyte locomotion assay in colon and breast cancer long survivors.

Cell-mediated immunity versus tumour antigens (cytosols) of the same histotype and site was evaluated by means of the lymphocyte locomotion (LL) assay in 46 colorectal adenocarcinoma and 41 breast ductal infiltrating carcinoma patients 36-220 months after surgical resection. Lymphocyte locomotion positivity was observed in 27/46 (58.7%) and 27/41 (65.9%) patients, respectively. These results indicate that a high percentage of long survivors retain an immunologic memory of the tumour antigen to which they have been exposed.

[Chemotherapy and thymostimulin in the treatment of advanced-stage breast neoplasms]. / Chemioterapia e timostimolina nel trattamento della neoplasia mammaria in fase avanzata.

In this study, we have evaluated certain haematologic and immunologic parameters in two advanced disease patient groups treated with chemotherapy (CMF schedule)+thymostimulin or chemotherapy alone, respectively. Statistical analysis of the data does not reveal any significant difference between the two patient groups. In our opinion, however, the administration of thymic hormone seems to protect the marrow crasis and, as a consequence, to obtain a lower incidence of side effects and respect of chemotherapeutic schedule.

The LMI test in colon, breast and lung cancer long survivors.

Cell-mediated immunity towards tumour antigens (cytosols) of the same histotype and site was evaluated by means of the LMI test in long survivors after surgical resection of adenocarcinoma of the colon, infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast, and squamous-cell carcinoma of the lung. A positive migration index (MI less than 85.0) was observed in 17/65 (26.2%) colon survivors, 7/18 (38.9%) breast survivors, and 1/19 (5.3%) lung survivors. 24.5% of all long survivors displayed an immunological memory of the antigen to which they had been exposed.

Leukocyte adherence inhibition test: cell-mediated reactivity to tumor antigens in colorectal and lung tumor long survivors.

Cell-mediated immunity versus tumor antigens (cytosols) of the same histotype and site was evaluated by means of the leukocyte adherence inhibition (LAI) test in 44 colorectal adenocarcinoma and 17 lung squamous-cell carcinoma patients 3-10 years after surgical resection. LAI-positivity was observed in 17/44 (38.6%) and 13/17 (76.5%) patients, respectively, together with serum blocking factors in 7/17 (41.2%) compared to 0/13. These results indicate that a high percentage of long survivors retain an immunologic memory of the tumor antigen to which they have been exposed. The prognostic significance of serum blocking factors is less clear.

Serum and salivary CEA and GICA levels in oral cavity tumours.

The gastrointestinal cancer-associated antigen (GICA) is recognised by a monoclonal antibody in both serum and tissues of patients with neoplasm of the GI tract. This study compared the serum and saliva values of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and GICA in 19 healthy subjects, 43 patients with benign oral cavity lesions and 26 with histologically confirmed squamous-cell carcinomas. Serum CEA levels were much the same in all three groups, whereas salivary values were significantly higher (p less than 0.001) in both patient groups than in the controls. Serum GICA gave the opposite result: lower in carcinoma than in controls (p less than 0.001) and benign lesions (N.S.), while salivary GICA was significantly lower in carcinoma than in both the other two groups (p less than 0.001). The meaning of this difference between the values for the two antigens is discussed.