Effects of Irradiation on the Immune Function in Patients with Mammary, Pulmonary or Head and Neck Carcinoma

It has been suggested that normal immune functions are of great importance in the defence against malignant diseases (COTTIER et coll.1974).It appears that the immune surveillance is not only important regarding primary tumors, but that the patient's immunocompetence during the disease is also related to the prognosis in established malignancy (HERSH et coll.1974).Therefore, much attention has been focused on the possible harmful effects of such treatments as irradiation and chemotherapy.The injurious effects of irradiation on the lymphoid cells have been demonstrated by BRAEMAN & DEELEY (1973), COSIMI et coll.(1973), BLOMGREN et coll.(1974), CHEE et coll.(1974), whereas SLATER et coll.(1976) have pointed out that the lymphoid system may recover within a few months.The greatest number of warning remarks have been published by STJERNSWARD (1974), who has suggested that irradiation may result in increased mortality due to its immunosuppressive effects.His results have, however, been criticized (LEVITT et coll.1976).In spite of extensive investigation regarding the interrelationship between the prognosis of malignant disease and the patient's immune functions, the question still remains unsettled, and the same is true regarding the immunosuppressive effect of various treatment forms.Yet, in order to treat malignant diseases effectively, this information is of vital importance.