Alterations in the number of large granular lymphocytes in patients with carcinoma of the breast and uterine cervix prior to and after radiotherapy.

The relative as well as absolute number of large granular lymphocytes (LGL) in the peripheral blood of patients with carcinomas of the breast and cervix uteri were significantly (p less than 0.05) declined compared to the healthy controls. The reduction in LGL was more pronounced in patients with far advanced carcinoma. Clinical remission following radiotherapy is associated with mild increase in the number of LGL in the blood of both groups of cancer patients.