The effect of transurethral resection of the prostate on lymphocyte response in patients with prostatic cancer.

The following study indicates that transurethral resection may affect the in vivo cellular aspects of the immune response in patients with prostatic cancer. This in vivo result seems to be supported by the fact that patients dying of carcinoma of the prostate at our institution usually had had an antecedent transurethral resection. Therefore, we emphasize that transurethral resection in patients with prostate cancer should be undertaken with clear-cut indications and with the knowledge that it may be an insult to the patient's immune system.

Effect of hormone therapy on immune response in patients with prostatic cancer.

Thirty-one patients with adenocarcinoma of the prostate had laboratory studies done for total proteins, serum immunoglobulins, white blood cell counts, lymphocyte blastogenesis, skin tests, acid phosphatase, and CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen). The 16 patients receiving no hormones had depressed total proteins, lymphocyte and monocyte counts, skin tests, and CEA compared with the 15 patients receiving hromones who had depressed serum immunoglobulins, white blood cell counts, lymphocyte blastogenesis, and acid phosphatase.

Carcinoembryonic antigen test in renal cell carcinoma.

CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) determinations were performed on 203 blood and urine samples from 23 patients with renal cell carcinoma. Neither the blood nor the urine CEA test was able to confirm the diagnosis or predict the status of the disease in more than one half of these patients. As presently constituted, the CEA test is not accurate for the diagnosis or prognosis of renal cell carcinoma.