Changes in immunoglobulin-positive cell populations in the vaginal smear during radiotherapy of cervical cancer and their relation to 5-year survival rate

To study the immunological response of irradiated cervical cancer, vaginal smears were taken from patients with this neoplasm during radiotherapy and stained with fluorescent anti-Igs sera by a direct method. Then, the relationship between the immune response during radiotherapy and a five year cure were discussed. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The mean percentage of the surface IgM-positive cells was 1.9% in normal vaginal smears and 5.8% in cervical cancer. 2. On the changes in the surface IgM-positive cells during radiotherapy, the patients were classified into three groups. Group A: The number of surface IgM-positive cells increased temporarily during radiotherapy. Group B: The number of surface IgM-positive cells decreased gradually during radiotherapy. Group C: The changes in the surface IgM-positive cells were irregular and/or showed little deviation. The five year survival rate for Group A was 81.8% and for Group B was 50.0%. There was significant difference between Group A and Group B in survival rates, and Group A was considered to be an immunoreactive group.