Cellular immune competence in patients with malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract.

The local graft-vs-host reaction (GVHR) test was used to assess the cellular immune competence of lymphocytes obtained from 29 patients with malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract before and after removal of the tumor. Prior to removal most patients showed impairment of cellular immune competence; 10 to 14 days after surgery there was an improvement in a considerable number of patients. However, when tested four months later, the GVHR was again negative in some patients. The possible factors leading to deficiency in cellular immune competence and the value of the local GVHR test in the long-term follow-up of patients who have had malignant disease are discussed.