Cellular immunity in patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma measured by autologous leukocyte migration inhibition

The leukocyte migration inhibition test (LMT) was utilized for in vitro study of tumor‐specific cell‐mediated immunity in 62 patients with various stages of colorectal adenocarcinoma. These patients underwent exploratory laparotomy for curative or palliative resections and were staged surgically and pathologically according to Dukes classification. Autologous tumor and mucosa were obtained from their surgical specimens and its homogenates were used for autologous LMT initially, i.e., on the day of surgery, and stored for the follow‐up studies utilizing freshly obtained autologous peripheral blood. The results showed that patients with localized or regional disease were initially hypersensitized to their tumors when compared with those with disseminated disease. However, the follow‐up studies expressed loss of such hypersensitivity. This could explain a possible mechanism for the development of metastasis and might provide an “escape” mechanism for the tumor immune response in the host on the cellular level similar to that described in the sera by Hellstrom and Halliday. These findings might reflect on immunotherapy in patients with regional or local disease after their curative surgery. For passive immunization, the lymphocytes should be obtained from these patients prior to surgery. Active or passive immunization could then be administered in the postoperative period and monitored by LMT. Cancer 40:687–692, 1977.