Cancer and dysplasia of cervix in relation to reduced lymphocytic cortisol metabolism-enhancing effect.

In previous studies we found that the plasma of carcinoma patients shows a reduced capacity to enhance lymphocytic cortisol metabolism. In the present study this capacity was assessed in the plasma of patients suffering from cervical carcinoma (Ce. Ca.) and of patients suffering from cervical dysplasia (Ce. Dis.) regarded as being at high risk to develop cancer. Known concentrations of human lymphocytes from healthy donors were incubated with cortisol in media containing 50% phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and 50% of one of the following additions: 1) homologous plasma (HP), 2) plasma from the patients being tested or from healthy controls, or 3) additional PBS. The cortisol conversion rate was measured and compared with that obtained with lymphocytes immersed in HP. Previous findings showed that the plasma of cancer patients has a mean metabolism-enhancing rate 62% of that obtained with HP. In the present study the results were as follows: Ce. Ca., 60%; Ce. Dis., 70%: controls, 93%. The percentage of "cancer-positive" results were as follows: Ce. Ca., 91%; Ce. Dis., 45%; controls, 25%.