The effect of hormone therapy on peripheral blood leukocytic subset distribution in stage D prostatic cancer patients.

The distribution of mononuclear cell types found in the peripheral blood of patients bearing carcinoma of the prostate were compared by stage and to a control group using monoclonal antibody techniques. Patients with lower stage disease (A, B) had no significant alteration in subset distribution when compared to a control group, while those with higher stage disease (D) had significant deviations. Stage D patients had a decreased representation of helper-inducer T cells and an increased representation of suppressor-cytotoxic T cells, with an overall reduction in the total T cell content. In addition elevated levels of monocytic, granulocytic and null cells were recognized by the polyspecific OKM1 antibody. These differences were in part reversible following hormonal therapy. Such alterations in the ratios between the various T cell populations could be useful in patient staging and treatment selection.