Delayed cutaneous sensitivity reactions to autologous Burkitt lymphoma protein extracts. Results of a prospective two and a half year study

• Published in: Clinical and experimental immunology 1971-12, Vol.9 (6), p.713-719
• Main Authors: Bluming, A. Z., Ziegler, J. L., Fass, L., Herberman, R. B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0009-9104; 1365-2249

Positive delayed cutaneous sensitivity reactions to protein extracts of autologous Burkitt lymphoma cells were observed in fifteen of thirty patients tested in clinical systemic remission and in only one of sixteen patients tested with active extradural disease. Positive responding patients who eventually relapsed had significantly longer remission durations than did their negative responding counterparts. Seven patients with positive reactions were negative when retested in relapse. Positive reactions were not observed at extract protein concentrations of 0·1 mg/ml and were maximally evident at 1 mg/ml. Negative skin tests could not be attributed to generalized anergy because of the simultaneous observation of positive reactions to common antigens in over half the negative responders. Cutaneous reactivity to autologous tumour extract may serve as a sensitive test for extradural disease activity, and, because of its association with remission duration, suggests a role for the specifically sensitized lymphocyte in tumour regression and prognosis.