Changes in cellular immunity following nephrectomy for localized and metastatic hypernephroma

Abstract

A group of sixteen patients with untreated hypernephroma were shown to have significantly reduced PHA induced cytotoxicity and antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity compared with the same patients 10–14 days post nephrectomy, or with normal controls. The T cell and non T (K) cell function improved following nephrectomy and values were reached not significantly different from the normal controls. The influence of tumour burden was also investigated. Six patients had demonstrable distant metastatic disease preoperatively and ten patients were without clinically evident metastases and were apparently “tumour free” following operation. No significant differences were found between these two groups of patients. The known occurrence of “spontaneous” regression in metastatic tumour after palliative nephrectomy raises speculation as to the in vivo significance of the increase in cytotoxicity described in this in vitro investigation of immune function.