Abnormal lymphocyte protein synthesis in bronchogenic carcinoma

Abstract

Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulated lymphocyte protein synthesis was measured in vitro in 21 patients with recently diagnosed, untreated bronchogenic carcinoma and 11 control subjects. In the cancer group absolute protein synthesis was significantly decreased in both baseline and stimulated cultures. The abnormality in protein synthesis was observed despite the fact that there were no differences in in vitro DNA synthesis between the two groups. In order to investigate the possibility that a decrease in the number of T-cells was the cause of the impaired protein synthesis in the lung cancer patients, the percentage of circulating E-rosetting forming cells was measured. The mean percentage of rosette forming cells i n the cancer patients was 66.8 f 2.2 and in the control population was 68.3 f 2.6. Our results demonstrate that lymphocyte protein synthesis is abnormal in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma and that the abnormality in protein synthesis is not due to decreased numbers of T-cells. In addition our results suggest that measurement of protein synthesis is a more sensitive assay of lymphocyte function than other standard parameters of cellular immunity.

Variable expression of CD3‐zeta and associated protein tyrosine kinases in lymphocytes from patients with myeloid malignancies

“…Numerous abnormalities have been described in both T‐cell and NK function ( Stupp et al , 1978 ; Rambotti et al , 1982 ; Chang et al , 1989 ; Verfaillie et al , 1990 ; Rajaram et al , 1990 ; Sorskaar et al , 1986 ; Colombat et al , 1988 ; Fontana et al , 1989 ; Hamblin, 1992; Ogata et al , 1995 ). Similar abnormalities are also reported in association with solid tumours, and studies have shown an inherent defect in activation in both NK and T cells from patients with advanced cancer ( Takasugi et al , 1977 ; Whitcomb & Parker, 1977; Miescher et al , 1986 ; Maccubbin et al , 1989 ). It has been suggested that the mechanism underlying the signalling defects observed may be caused by loss of components of the T‐cell receptor (TCR) ( Mizoguchi et al , 1992 ; Finke et al , 1993 ; Nakagomi et al , 1993 ; Matsuda et al , 1995 ; Zier et al , 1996 ) and Fc receptors on NK cells ( Nakagomi et al , 1993 ; Matsuda et al , 1995 ).…”

T- and B-cell responses in patients with malignant pleural effusions

“…PHA-stimulated DNA synthesis in blood lymphocytes of cancer patients and other patients has already been investigated by numerous research groups (Barnes et al, 1975;Han & Takita, 1972;Hoppe et al, 1977;Pary & Bone, 1973;Rees et al, 1975;Reis et al, 1977;Robinson et al, 1974;Whitcomb & Parker, 1977). Most of the authors found that PHA-stimulated DNA synthesis in blood lymphocytes of patients with early-stage cancer was reduced slightly if at all.…”