NEUTROPHIL AND MONOCYTE PHAGOCYTIC FUNCTIONS IN PATIENTS WITH COLORECTAL ADENOCARCINOMA DURING FLUOROURACIL THERAPY

Neutrophil and monocyte phagocytic functions, i.e.% of phagocytic cell s, ingestion and inkacellular microbicidity were determined in 51 pati ents with colorectal adenocarcinoma, 43 with localized disease and 8 w ith distant metastases. Phagocytic functions were determined at the ti me of diagnosis, following surgery are before each of 6 cycles of fluo rouracil chemotherapy. Four of six phagocytic parameters determined we re decreased at diagnosis while all 6 decreased following surgery. Dur ing chemotherapy, neutrophil phagocytic activity recovered to normal v alue while all other neutrophil and monocyte functions remained decrea sed Even so, neutrophil ingestion and monocyte phagocytic activity and microbicidity increased reaching from time to time values significant ly higher than that found before the start of chemotherapy. The result s showed significant alternations of neutrophil and monocyte phagocyto sis in colorectal adenocarcinoma patients at the time of diagnosis, wi th further decrease following surgery. Fluorouracil chemotherapy did n ot exert suppressive effects on these functions; on the contrary, it s eemed to support, or at least not to prevent, their partial recovery.