Leukocyte migration inhibition in human pulmonary neoplasia.

Peripheral blood leukocytes from 65 lung cancer patients, 69 healthy donors, 33 patients with malignant disease outside the lung, and 24 patients with nonmalignant pulmonary conditions were examined for immune reactivity, as measured by the leukocyte migration inhibition assay, to antigens in homogenates of lung tumor tissue and material derived from tumor-free lung areas and a nonmalignant lung lesion. A low level of reactivity with apparent specificity was detected in the lung cancer patient group, with 17/52 showing migration inhibition with extracts of lung tumor tissue. Reactivity was also detectable in this group against homogenates of tumor-free lung and nonmalignant lung lesion. The data supported the conclusion that sensitization at least in some patients with lung cancer might be directed not only against tumor-specific antigens but also against antigens of less confined disease association.