Immunosuppression and human cancer: Role of prostaglandins

• Published in: Cancer 1977-06, Vol.39 (6), p.2362-2364
• Main Authors: Harvey, Harold A., Allegra, Joseph C., Demers, Laurence M., Luderer, John R., Brenner, Dean E., Trautlein, Joseph J., White, Deborah S., Gillin, Marilyn A., Lipton, Allan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Breast Neoplasms - blood; Breast Neoplasms - immunology; Female; Humans; Hypersensitivity, Delayed; Kidney Neoplasms - blood; Kidney Neoplasms - immunology; Lung Neoplasms - blood; Lung Neoplasms - immunology; Lymphoma - blood; Lymphoma - immunology; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms - blood; Neoplasms - immunology; Prostaglandins E - blood; Skin Tests; Stomach Neoplasms - blood; Stomach Neoplasms - immunology
• ISSN: 0008-543X; 1097-0142
• DOI: 10.1002/1097-0142(197706)39:6<2362::AID-CNCR2820390608>3.0.CO;2-U

Prostaglandins, unsaturated fatty acid derivatives with diversified pharmacologic activity, have been implicated in the pathophysiology of many diseases. Prostaglandin E (PGE) levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in the plasma of 41 normocalcemic patients with various stages of malignancies. Delayed hypersensitivity was assessed by a battery of six recall skin test antigens (ST) and by Dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) sensitization and challenge. Twenty‐five patients with one or more positive skin tests had a mean PGE level of 87 ± 8 pg/ml, whereas 16 patients with negative ST had a mean PGE level of 96 ± 12 pg/ml. Twenty‐one DNCB negative patients had a mean PGE level of 98 ± 12 pg/ml and eight totally anergic patients had a mean PGE of 96 ± 12 pg/ml. All PGE values were within the normal range and there was no statistical difference between the four groups, (p < 0.1). We concluded that circulating PGE does not correlate with the non‐specific immunosuppression seen in cancer patients.