Immunological abnormalities in patients with cervical carcinoma.

The cellular immune response of 58 patients affected by cervical cancer was evaluated with the aim of investigating abnormalities in T-cell populations. Subjects were divided into three groups: severe dysplasia or carcinoma in situ, microinvasive carcinoma, and invasive carcinoma. T cells were assessed by a spontaneous rosette formation test with sheep red blood cells and by reactivity with specific monoclonal antibodies of OKT series (OKT4 and OKT8 positive lymphocytes). A significant T-cell depression was observed in all patient groups; the lowest T-cell level was observed in group (b), which revealed an inverted OKT4+/OKT8+ ratio too. The results support the hypothesis that cell-mediated immunity is a key factor in premalignant status and in the early development of cervical cancer.