Defective cell-mediated immunity in carcinoma of the prostate.

Cell-mediated immunity was assayed in 18 patients with a histologic diagnosis of carcinoma of the prostate and in 10 control patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy. In vivo cell-mediated response was assayed by intradermal skin testing to a battery of five delayed hypersensitivity antigens. In vitro cell-mediated immunity was studied by lymphocyte transformation using both heterologous and autologous "serums" and nonimmune rosette formation. Lymphocyte transformation studies were carried out using both specific antigens (Dermatophyton and streptokinase-streptodornase) and a nonspecific mitogen (phytohemagglutinin). Nonimmune rosette formation was performed under numerous temperature ranges. A defect in cell-mediated immunity was found in patients with carcinoma of the prostate. Skin tests demonstrated a significantly increased incidence of energy in cancer patients. Mitogen-induced lymphocyte transformation was significantly depressed when autologous serum from patients with carcinoma of the prostate was utilized in the procedure. It is concluded that defect in cell-mediated immunity does exist in patients with carcinoma of the prostate. This defect is expressed in vivo and in vitro and seems to be mediated by a serum factor.