Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity in cancer patients: lack of prognostic value

Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (“killer” (K) cell activity) of peripheral-blood lymphomononuclear (LMN) cells was determined in patients with early and advanced cancer, and the results compared with those in healthy individuals, those with benign diseases and critically ill septic patients. The effect of operation and local radiotherapy was determined on K cells. The initial values were compared in those who subsequently lived or died to test their prognostic value. K-cell activity was the same in women of all ages and was half that in men. It was lower in men over 65 years than in younger men. In patients with early cancer, K-cell activity was the same as in healthy individuals and those with benign diseases, and was of no prognostic value. It was decreased by 42% in those with advanced cancer but to the same extent as in the septic patients. Operation had no effect in those who had normal activity before operation, but caused an 84% decrease in those who had low preoperative values. The decrease was maximal at 5 days and recovery occurred by 15 days. Radiotherapy caused a 72% decrease in K-cell activity, maximal at 5 weeks after starting treatment, with recovery by 16 weeks in those who had complete tumour regression. The values remained low in those with persistent tumour or metastases. The values during treatment did not help in identifying those who subsequently lived or died.