SUDDEN TUMOR-REGRESSION WITH ENHANCED NATURAL-KILLER-CELL ACCUMULATION IN A PATIENT WITH STAGE-IV BREAST-CANCER

Spontaneous regression of advanced breast cancer is a rare phenomenon. Efforts have been made in order to explain it by means of immunologic al mechanisms. Corticosteroids have demonstrated important efficacy in the treatment of breast cancer. We present a patient with stage IV br east cancer in whom large tumour masses dramatically regressed during treatment with dexamethasone alone. In this patient, histological and hormonal findings, with results of analyses on surface and intracellul ar blood cells markers demonstrated significant redistribution of lymp hocytes and accumulation of natural killer cells in tumour masses. It seems that dexamethasone has acted through the hypophyse against cance r.