The presence of delayed hypersensitivity reactions in patients toward cellular extracts of their malignant tumors. 3. The frequency, duration, and cross reactivity of this phenomenon in patients with breast cancer, and its correlation with survival.

Abstract

In a group of 56 patients, 12 have shown a delayed hypersensitivity reaction (D.H.R.) to cellular extracts of their tumor. Such patients have anaplastic tumors with regional node metastases, and they tend to have significant stromal infiltrate of their tumor by mononuclear cells. Repeat skin testing with auto-logous extracts gave weaker reactions, up to 34 months after the first skin testing. Antigen stored at-20C causes a positive D.H.R. after 5 years in other patients, and cross reactivity occurred in approximately 50% of those cases tested. Shortened survival is seen in the majority of those patients who have a D.H.R. to their own tumor. This is interpreted as being due to inadequacy of this restraint of growth by the cellular defense mechanism in the face of a virulent tumor. In three patients who had an intense round cell infiltrate and a D.H.R. to the tumor, survival of 5, 5, and 5½ years, respectively, is seen.