Impaired cell‐mediated immunity of apparently normal patients who had multiple skin cancers

Abstract

Background. Investigations of the immune status of patients with skin cancer have had conflicting results, possibly because uniform groups of patients were not studied. Patients who had multiple skin cancers (three or more) were studied to determine whether they had impaired cell‐mediated immunity (CMI). Methods. Thirty‐four patients and 34 matched control subjects were studied who were younger than 60 years, were not immunosuppressed, and were free from internal cancer. Cell‐mediated immunity was tested by the cutaneous reaction to recall antigens (Multitest CMI, Pasteur Merieux, Lyon, France) and the estimation of lymphocyte levels. Results. Patients had significantly lower Multitest CMI scores (P < 0.0005), lower lymphocyte counts (P < 0.02), and were more likely to have a first‐degree relative with skin cancer (P < 0.002). Multitest CMI scores decreased with the number of skin cancers removed (P < 0.0006) and were a significant predictor for CD4 (P < 0.04) and CD8 cell counts (P < 0.02). Conclusions. Patients who had multiple skin cancers had impaired CMI, and the degree of impairment correlated with the number of skin cancers removed. Cancer 1995; 76:228–31. Copyright © 1995 American Cancer Society