Immune responses in the treatment of advanced carcinoma of the breast. Effects of adrenalectomy.

We set out to answer the question, "Is the effect of adrenalectomy associated with or mediated through the immune response?" Eleven patients were studied preoperatively and postoperatively by in vitro immunologic tests. The assay system used included absolute T cell counts, phytohemagglutinin (PHA) blastogenesis, leukocyte adherence inhibition (LAI) after contact with 3M potassium chloride breast antigens, and blocking as measured in the blastogenesis and LAI assays. Good correlation was found between favorable clinical response to adrenalectomy and a rise in the number of absolute T cells, an increase in LAI positivity, and a decrease in blocking as measured by LAI blocking assay, but no correlation was seen in PHA blastogenesis assays. The association of clinical objective responses and improved immune responses is of significance.