Lymphocyte transformation in malignant lymphomas

Peripheral blood leukocyte cultures with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) were studied in 19 patients with malignant lymphomas, classified as Stage IV. Thirteen patients had lymphosarcoma and 6 had reticulum cell sarcoma. Control subjects included both healthy and chronically ill subjects. Seventeen patients with Hodgkin's disease were also studied. A wide range of responsiveness to PHA was observed in cases of lymphosarcoma with a median value for the group lower than that of control subjects. Correlation of lymphocyte transformation with PHA was noted with histologic type of lymphosarcoma, with duration of disease and with age of the patient. The most marked impairment of transformation generally occurred in patients with small cell lymphosarcoma, in patients with brief duration of disease and older age groups. There was little correlation between peripheral blood lymphocyte level and percentage transformation with PHA. In patients with reticulum cell sarcoma, PHA stimulation was quite markedly impaired. In Hodgkin's disease, impaired transformation with PHA was related to stage of disease and peripheral lymphocyte levels. Patients with Stage IV disease showed decreased transformation as did patients with lymphopenia.