Prognistic relevance of radiation induced immune suppression in breast carcinoma.

The extent of radiation induced immune suppression was analysed in 100 patients with carcinoma of the breast. The relative changes of lymphocyte counts and stimulations by PHA and PPD were similar in patients who differed with regard to age, size of tumour and its malignancy grade or axillary node condition. Moreover, no difference in the degree of radiation induced immune suppression existed between patients who developed recurrent disease and those who remained free of disease during a follow-up period of 4 1/2 to 7 years.