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Biomedical subjects

R M Mackie

Publications and source records attributed to R M Mackie.

107 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Postoperative depression of tumour-directed cell-mediated immunity in patients with malignant disease.

Leucocytes from 46 melanoma patients, 45 breast carcinoma patients, and 95 control donors were tested by the leucocyte migration test against the supernatants of homogenates of malignant melanomas, breast carcinomas, simple breast tumours, and breasts showing simple cystic disease. By comparison with controls inhibition of migration occurred significantly more frequently when tumour patients' leucocytes were exposed to extracts of histogenetically similar tumours.Cell-mediated immunity to tumour-associated antigens was measured in 12 patients with breast carcinoma and 12 with malignant melanoma immediately before surgical operation and in the postoperative period. All patients tested before operation showed significant inhibition of migration on contact with extracts of histogenetically similar tumours. Postoperatively the degree of leucocyte migration inhibition was reduced in all patients with melanoma and breast carcinoma. Significant inhibition of leucocyte migration returned in most patients 6-22 days after operation.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

Immunological changes in cancer patients receiving BCG.

We employed immunological tests to assess patients with cancer, mainly melanoma, receiving BCG alone or combined with chemotherapy. A comparison of BCG recipients with similar cancer patients not receiving BCG showed differences in the frequency of Mantoux reactivity positivity in the leucocyte migration assay against tumour antigens and positivity in membrane immunofluorescence. Short term sequential studies showed conversion from negativity to positivity or strengthening of reaction to occur during initiation of BCG therapy. Extended sequential studies employing the leucocyte migration assay against tumour antigens and modifications to assess serum effects indicate that the changes are more related to the changing clinical status than to BCG. It may be possible to devise quantitative in vitro techniques to assay sensitivity to tuberculoproteins which may allow assessment of BCG effects in vitro. Current technology permits monitoring for varying clinical stage rather than the effects of immunotherapy.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗