Immunosuppression related to ascitic fluid in patients with ovarian carcinoma.

The immune response to SRBC (PFC assay) was suppressed in mice injected with cell-free ascitic fluid from patients with ovarian carcinoma. The immunosuppressive effect of ascitic fluid obtained from stage IV patients was stronger than that of stage III patients. These data were correlated with the patient's immune status (number of E and EAC rosettes, PHA reactivity of lymphocytes, skin reactivity in recall antigens) and with changes in protein fractions in the serum and ascitic fluid. A good correlation was found between the immunosuppressive effect in the mouse PEC assay and the increased quantity of alpha-1-globulins in ascites. Skin nonreactivity to PPD also correlated with the immunosuppressive effect of ascitic fluid. However, the lymphocyte response to PHA and the numbers of E and EAC rosettes did not correlate either with skin reactivity or recall antigens or with the suppression of PFC response in mice.