Increased proportion of suppressor/cytotoxic (OKT8+) cells in patients with Hodgkin's disease in long-lasting remission

The distribution of T-lymphocyte subsets in patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) at diagnosis and in those disease-free off-therapy for over 5 years, was assessed with OKT monoclonal antibodies. In patients at diagnosis, T-cell subsets appeared substantially balanced with only a moderate reduction in the proportion and absolute number of OKT4 (helper/inducer) positive cells, suggesting that the lymphopenia, constantly associated with HD at diagnosis, is mainly due to a reduction in the helper/inducer T-cell subpopulation. In patients off-therapy, a reduced proportion, but normal absolute number, of OKT4+ cells was constantly accompanied by a significant increase in the proportion and absolute number of OKT8+ cells, compared with patients at diagnosis and normal controls (40% +/- 11 versus 24% +/- 7 and versus 23 +/- 6, respectively). Consequently the OKT4/OKT8 ratio, normal or near normal in patients at diagnosis (1.70 versus 2.00), was significantly reduced in patients off-therapy (0.78 versus 2.00, P less than 0.001). These data suggest that in patients with HD at diagnosis, T-cell subpopulations are substantially normal, while a significant abnormality was observed in patients with HD off-therapy and potentially "cured." Further investigations will better elucidate these findings probably related to the cytotoxic radiotherapy and chemotherapy.