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Abnormalities of Lymphocyte Transformations in Women with Intraepithelial Carcinoma of the Vulva

From Iho Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Section of Infectious Diseases at The University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Abstract

Cellular immunity of the delayed type in women with intraepithelial carcinoma (carcinoma in situ) of the vulva was investigated by an in vitro assay of mitogen-induced lymphocyte transformations. Test results from 9 patients were compared to those of 23 age-matched control subjects. Lymphocyte transformation responses in counts per minute were significantly lower for women with carcinoma in situ of the vulva than for control subjects for phytohemagglutinin-P (at 50 ng/m\) 6238 and 28,102 (P<0.0001); for phytohemagglutinin-P (at 165 fig/ml 7222 and 21,417 (P<0.001); for concanavailin A, 14,988 and 41,888(P< 0.0001);andpokeweedmitogen, 20,861 and49,601 (P<0.001). No significant differences in lymphocyte transformations were noted between these two groups to the specific antigens, Candida or streptokinase-streptodornase. Four patients with carcinoma in situ of the vulva were also found to have intraepithelial carcinoma of the cervix and/or vagina. The occurrence and clinical course of carcinoma in situ of the vulva in some women may be related to an underlying defect in cellular immunity. Immunosuppression may also explain the frequent association noted between carcinoma of the vulva and the development of other malignant neoplasms.