[Influence of T-lymphocytes in bladder cancer on appearance and infiltration of recurrences (author's transl)].

Intrinsic body defences against cancer depend on cells of the lymphatic and reticulo-endothelial systems, the T-lymphocytes playing a central role in the immunological rejection of tumor. The mononuclear cell infiltrate in tumor tissue is largely composed of immunocytes of the T-lymphocyte series. A heavy concentration of lymphocytes in stroma of bladder tissue affected with cancer appears to indicate a good prognosis. After removal of the primary tumor, recurrences are noted only after a relatively long interval, infiltration of the tumor into bladder muscle being hindered by immunocyte activity. It is clear, from comparison with dinitrochlorbenzol skin testing, that the extent of lymphocyte infiltration in tumor tissue is a measure of the cellular immune status of a patient with cancer.