HUMORAL IMMUNITY IN PATIENTS WITH CARCINOMA OF THE UTERINE CERVIX - EFFECTS OF RADIATION-THERAPY

The parameters of nonspecific immunity-serum immunoglobulins and immune complexes-were evaluated in patients with carcinoma of the uterine cervix (Stages IIB and IIIB) prior to, during and immediately after pelvic irradiation. In untreated patients, significantly elevated circulating IgA was found only in patients in Stage IIIB; serum IgG and IgM in both groups did not differ from control values. The level of circulating immune complexes in both groups was higher than in controls. Radiotherapy did not affect significantly any of the parameters examined, only the percentage of patients with elevated concentrations of IgA and IgG decreased during the treatment. These results showed that fractionated pelvic irradiation did not affect B cell function, these cells being more radioresistant than other lymphocyte subpopulations.