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Immunological Responsiveness in Patients with Bladder Cancer¹

Immunobiology Group, Department of Microbiology and Immunology [J. L., F. D.], and Division of Urology, Department of Surgery [S. B.], UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90024

Delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity tests, especially skin tests with dinitrochlorobenzene, are impaired increasingly as the amount of tumor increases. Recall antigens are less sensitive indicators of disease. Therapy, especially radiotherapy, also depresses cell-mediated immunity. Removal of tumor, however, allows these tests to return to normal.

Dinitrochlorobenzene skin testing can contribute significantly to prognostic evaluation. An important facet of the tumor-host relationship is measured, and this reflects factors that are independent of tumor staging. Combination of tumor staging and dinitrochlorobenzene-delayed hypersensitivity testing can provide a strong indication of the clinical course, especially for the year following initial treatment of invasive or metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

¹ Presented at the National Bladder Cancer Conference, November 28 to December 1, 1976, Miami Beach, Fla. Supported by Grant CA-16880 from the National Cancer Institute through the National Bladder Cancer Project.

² Presenter. To whom requests for reprints should be addressed.