Lymphocyte response to autologous tumor antigen(s) and phytohemagglutinin in ovarian cancer patients.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from 11 patients with ovarian carcinoma were incubated several times with autologous tumor extract as well as phytohemagglutinin (PHA) at different concentrations. Lymphocytes from 10 normal, healthy, age-matched females were also studied similarly. Tritiated thymidine incorporation into DNA of transformed lymphocytes was measured. No significant response was obtained with lymphocytes from ovarian cancer patients or normal individuals in the presence of tumor extracts. Of 6 tumor extracts tested, 5 did not have any cytotoxic effect on autologous or on homologous normal healthy lymphocytes. Hence, with this test system employed, no evidence for a cell-mediated immunity to autologous tumor in ovarian cancer patients was observed. PHA, on the other hand, induced vigorous blastogenic response in several ovarian cancer patient's lymphocytes, as well as in all normal healthy lymphocytes, indicating no inherent defect in the T-lymphocyte system of ovarian cancer patients. Only 2 of the patients, when tested for delayed hypersensitivity reaction against a battery of recall antigens and keyhole limpet hematocyanin, were completely anergic. None of the patients responded when skin tested with their own tumor extracts.