J.Jpn. Surg. Soc.. 82(6): 587-598, 1981

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Original article

CIRCULATING IMMUNE COMPLEX AND IMMUNOLOGIC RESPONSES IN PATIENTS WITH MALIGNANT TUMOR

The circulating immune complex (C.I.C.) was examined by Clq solid-phase radioimmunoassay in 144 patients with malignant tumor (gastric cancer, 60 patients ; colo-rectal cancer, 42 patients; lung cancer, 32 patients; and breast cancer 10 patients). Cellular and humoral immunity were examined at the same time and their correlation with C.I.C. was investigated. The following results were obtained.
1) Positive C.I.C. was obtained in 16 of 144 patients (11.1%), a high incidence being noted in advanced cancers. Two of the 13 patients where tumor was not completely removed showed persistent positive C.I.C. postoperatively.
2) The positive rate for delayed skin tests (tuberculin test and PHA response) was higher in patients with positive C.I.C. than in those with negative C.I.C..
3) No significant difference was observed in content of T cell and B cell between the positive C.I.C. group and the negative C.I.C. group, before and after operation.
4) Blast formation of lymphocytes showed tendency to be lower in the positive C.I.C. group than in the negative C. I.C. group, before and after operation. However, no significant difference was noted.
5) No significant difference was observed in the CH₅₀, C₃ and C₄ complement systems between the positive C.I.C. group and the negative C.I.C. group before operation. After operation, the positive C.I.C. group had significantly higher C₄ levels than the negative C.I.C. group.
6) No significant difference was observed in serum glycoproteins, α₁-Ag and α₁-At Hp, between the positive C.I.C. group and the negative group, before and after operation.
Although C.I.C. caused no significant differences in cellular immunity or humoral immunity, it is considered to be a factor which has some influences on them.

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