[The cytochemical characteristics of neutrophil leukocytes in lung cancer before and during antineoplastic chemotherapy].

A number of cytochemical characteristics and the NBT test were studied in neutrophilic granulocytes of 194 patients with diffuse pulmonary carcinoma (Stages III-IV), 31 patients with chronic nonspecific pulmonary diseases, and 20 normal subjects. Changes in the neutrophilic morphology and function were revealed in lung cancer patients, presenting as elevated alkaline phosphatase activity, reduced myeloperoxidase activity and lipid and glycogen levels, increased endogenous activation of the neutrophils in the NBT test, and decreased reaction activity in zymosan stimulation. Antitumor chemotherapy involved a lowering of the cationic protein level, as well of the acid phosphatase activity, and elevation of glycogen content. Stimulated NBT test was highly sensitive to cytostatic therapy. Tumor dissemination and morphologic variant contributed to changes in the neutrophilic morphology and function.