Immune functions, clinical parameters and hormone receptor status in breast cancer patients

We have carried out a detailed analysis of the cellular immune functions of breast cancer patients in comparison with healthy controls. A possible cor relation between immune and clinical parameters was analysed in 50 breast c ancer patients. Immune parameters, natural killer cell and T lymphocyte fun ctions and the numbers of circulating T lymphocytes were analysed against t he clinical parameters comprising the tumour burden, the stage of the disea se and the expression of hormone receptors on the tumour. In order to analy se the immune function data effectively, low responders were identified wit h stringent cut-off values. Considerably higher proportions of low responde rs were found among the patient population. Elevated numbers of circulating T lymphocytes and CD3-directed cytolysis correlated with the expression of oestrogen receptors independently of the clinical/histological parameters.