Immunological evaluation in patients with urological cancers.

The immunological competence of 100 patients bearing urological cancers was evaluated by means of skin tests and serum immunoelectrophoresis. Cell-mediated immunodepressions were observed in 93.3% of prostatic cancers, 68.6% of bladder cancers and 38.4% of renal cancers. The immunoglobulin values increased in 80% of prostatic cancers, 31.3% of bladder cancers and in 23% of renal cancers. IgA was elevated in almost all the prostatic growths. In bladder and renal cancers a clear correlation between immunodepression and tumour stage was found. Treatment significantly improved the skin test reactivity in the evaluated patients. Metastases and recurrences occurred more frequently in immunodepressed subjects.