Detection of circulating lung tumor antigen-sensitive T lymphocytes in the early stages of lung cancer.

Abstract

Abstract Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were assayed in 64 patients for T cells sensitized to lung tumor-associated antigens (LTA) by the antigen-stimulated active rosette-forming T cell (AgARFC) assay. Levels of LTA-sensitized T cells were correlated with the detection and stage of lung carcinoma. Incubation of preoperative PBL from 32 patients with lung carcinoma with allogeneic LTA extracts produced significantly increased AgARFC compared to incubation without LTA. Reactivity to LTA was independent of tumor histological type. Elevated circulating LTA-sensitive T cells were found in 80% (eight of ten) of stage I (P