Lymphocyte replication in lung cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.

In vivo and in vitro survival and response of lymphocytes were studied in 12 lung cancer patients before, during and following radiotherapy, and comparisons were made to data from 20 healthy control subjects. Lymphocyte counts of lung cancer patients prior to radiotherapy did not differ significantly from those of control subjects. Following radiotherapy, lymphocyte counts were significantly reduced. The in vitro survival of lymphocytes from lung cancer patients prior to radiotherapy was lower than that of normal controls. Radiation treatment had no effect on lymphocyte survival in vitro. PHA-stimulated lymphoblast formation in lung cancer patients prior to radiotherapy did not differ from that of normal controls, but decreased significantly during radiotherapy.