Irving M. Bush

Carcinoembryonic Antigen in the Diagnosis of Prostate Carcinoma

Plasma carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) determinations were carried out by the method of Hansen on 100 successive male patients admitted to the urologic service. CEA levels were elevated (above 2.4 ng/m

Serum proteins in prostatic cancer II. effect on in vitro cell-mediated immunologic responsiveness

The sera from patients with prostatic cancer have been observed to posses an unidentified factor capable of inhibiting the migration of leukocytes and the proliferative response to the nonspecific mitogen, phytohemagglutinin. Observation of inhibition of these two suggested in vitro correlates fo cell-mediated immunologic responsiveness emphasizes (1) the importance to the adjunctive diagnosis and prognosis of patients with malignancy of identifying the presence of abnormal serum proteins, and (2) the role of humoral inhibitory or immunoregulatory factors as potential abrogators of mechanisms of host resistance, for example, immunologic surveillance, and thus the degree to whcih the host may respond to his tumor.

The prognostic value of carcinoembryonic antigen in carcinoma of the prostate

SummarySeventy-six patients with carcinoma of the prostate had 392 serial plasma carcinoembryonic antigen determinations performed over a 15 month interval in an attempt to determine the prognostic value of this test.-Sixteen of the 28 patients with decreasing serial CEA levels had active disease and nineteen of the 31 patients with rising serial CEA level had inactive disease. No difference in CEA patterns was seen in patients undergoing various types of therapy.-It does not appear that plasma CEA as presently constituted is an accurate prognostic test for the follow-up of carcinoma of the prostate.

Lipofuscin granules in normal, benign and malignant human prostatic tissue

SummaryConfirmation and extension of the identification and variation of the frequency of lipofuscin granules in sections of specimens of normal, benign and malignant human prostatic tissue by fluorescent microscopy was obtained. However, the suggestion of the possible relationship between the presence of these granules and alterations in the metabolic processes within the prostate occuring in consequence of senescence and/or disease-specific factors is perhaps somewhat questionable as cellular and structural variations ranging from the benign to the most anaplastic were frequently observed in the same microscopic section.

Immunosuppressive effect of estrogen on thymic dependent lymphocytic blastogenesis

SummarySuppression of thein vitro blastogenic stimulation of thymic dependent lymphocytes (T-cells) from healthy adult males in the presence of diethylstilbestrol diphosphate suggests that further investigation of estrogenic hormones as potential immunosuppressants in selected instances is warranted. Furthermore, preliminary evidence of the suppression of blastogenesis of T-cells in the presence of autologous serum from patients with prostatic cancer receiving hormonal therapy suggests that the palliative effects of such endocrine manipulation may be countered by impairment of these patients cell-mediated immunologic responsiveness to their malignancy.

Broadened Use of Computers

To the Editor.— A physician practicing today must be able to identify rapidly all the patients receiving a particular drug. It is quick and easy to get information on drug recalls, side effects, complications arising

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.

Evaluation of Immune Status in Tumor Patients

To the Editor. –Vetto and co-workers ( Arch Surg 108:558, 1974) have emphasized the importance of evaluating the immune status of tumor patients. We have observed that, while there are accepted systems for clinically staging and pathologically grading tumors, no accepted classification exists to immunologically stage a patient who has cancer. We are presently emphasizing the need for such an immunostaging system, 1,2 and offer it for your consideration. After an immunologic evaluation, including humoral and cellular aspects of immunologic responsiveness, has been completed, the patients immunologic status may be assessed and staged immunologically. A possible immunostaging system might consist of four immunostages, ranging from a strong immune response (stage 1) to anergic unresponsiveness (stage 4): immunostage 1: patients with a high lymphocyte blastogenic index and high levels of IgM associated with tumor cytotoxic antibody; immunostage 2: patients with a high lymphocyte blastogenic index with high IgG levels; immunostage 3: patients