ENHANCEMENT OF NATURAL CELL-MEDIATED CYTOTOXICITY IN GASTRIC-CARCINOMA PATIENTS FOLLOWED BY 5-FLUORO URACIL TREATMENT

Non-adherent peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 15 patient s with carcinoma stomach and 6 normal healthy controls were assessed f or Natural Killer Cell mediated cytotoxicity (NKCMC) and antibody depe ndent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) in a 4 hrs (51)chromium release ass ay against target cells, K.562 and sensitized chicken red blood cells (CRBC) respectively. NKCMC and ADCC were significantly reduced in pati ents with respect to normal controls. However, significant enhancement in NKCMC and ADCC was observed, when a follow up study of the patient s was conducted after one month following initial trials of chemothera py with 5-fluoro uracil (5Fu). This paper reports on the immunomodulat ory effects of 5-Fu on NK cytotoxic status of patients with carcinoma stomach.