Reductions of responder and stimulator capacities of peripheral lymphoid cells in the mixed lymphocyte culture following external radiotherapy

The peripheral lymphoid cells of patients with primary cancers of the breast, urinary bladder or prostate were examined, before and after radiotherapy, for capacity to respond and stimulate in the mixed lymphocyte culture using lymphoid cells from healthy donors as allogeneic cells. Radiotherapy reduced both the responder and stimulator capacities of the peripheral lymphoid cells to approximately the same extent in the same individual. These reductions were not correlated to the extent of radiation induced lymphopenia. The results suggest a general defect of the peripheral lymphoid cell population after radiotherapy.