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Immunologic assessment of patients with pulmonary metaplasia and neoplasia. [Effects of smoking and uranium mining on immunity]

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6293512
Immune profiles have been obtained on 206 individuals including 57 controls, 50 lung cancer patients, and 99 uranium miners with well-defined sputum cytologies ranging from normal to carcinoma in situ. Little effect of smoking, uranium mining or a combination of mining plus smoking on immune function was observed if sputum cytology was normal. In heavy smokers there was a suggestion that total T cells are increased while T cell function is slightly depressed. Immunologic abnormalities were noted in the moderate atypia group where 40% had one or more abnormal immunologic parameters. Immunologic abnormalities were detected in 68 to 70 patients with marked atypia, carcinoma in situ, or invasive carcinoma. Further sequential study of the uranium miner population is necessary to define more precisely the predictive value of immunologic testing, and the role of early identification of high risk individuals in the early institution of definitive therapy, such as surgery or immunotherapy. Long-term prospective analysis of this population may also provide the answer to the question of whether alterations in immune function precede, or result from the appearance of cells committed to the development of neoplasia.
Research Organization:
Los Alamos Scientific Lab., NM (USA); Saint Mary's Hospital, Grand Junction, CO (USA). Dept. of Pathology
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-36
OSTI ID:
6293512
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-79-831; CONF-790415-19
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English