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Tuberculin and dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) tests in cancer patients before and after cytostatic drug therapy

Tuberkulin- und Dinitrochlorobenzol (DNCB)-Tests in Krebspatienten vor und nach zytostatischer Therapie

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Zusammenfassung

Bei 137 Patienten mit unterschiedlichen soliden Karzinomen und verschiedenem Tumorstadium wurde die zelluläre Immunität durch Tuberkulin- und DNCB-(Dinitrochlorbenzol)-Test untersucht. Die Tests wurden vor und nach zytostatischer Stoßtherapie durchgeführt.

Insgesamt fanden wir eine positive Korrelation zwischen Hauttests und Prognose und eine negative Korrelation zwischen Hauttests und Tumorstadium.

Wenn mindestens ein Test vor Chemotherapie positiv war, konnten wir in ca. 50% eine Verbesserung der zellulären Immunität registrieren, dagegen nur in 20%, wenn beide Tests vor zytostatischer Therapie negativ waren. Ein signifikanter Zusammenhang zwischen verbesserter Reaktion auf Tuberkulin und/oder DNCB nach zytostatischer Therapie und objektiver Tumorrückbildung wurde beobachtet. Wenn beide Reaktionen schwächer wurden, folgteimmer eine Tumorprogression.

Aufgrund dieser Beobachtungen verwenden wir die Hauttests als wertvollen Parameter für den Therapieerfolg. Wir wechseln daher sofort die Zytostatikakombination, wenn 2–3 Wochen nach Chemotherapie die Hautreaktionen schwächer werden. Ob hierdurch eine Verbesserung der Zytostatikatherapie möglich ist, kann derzeit noch nicht sicher gesagt werden.

Summary

In 137 patients with different kinds of cancer and different cancer stage, cell-mediated immunity was investigated by DNCB (dinitrochlorobenzene) and tuberculin test. These two skin tests were performed before and after cytostatic drug combination therapy.

For a collective of cancer patients we found a positive correlation between skin reactions and prognosis and a negative correlation between skin reactions and cancer stage.

After cytostatic drug therapy skin reactions could be significantly stronger. This could be observed in 50% when one test was positive before chemotherapy and in only 20% when both tests were negative before chemotherapy. There existed a significant correlation between an increased reaction after cytostatic drug therapy and objective tumor regression. When skin reactions decreased, tumor progression was seen in all cases.

Due to these observations we use skin reactions as a good parameter for therapy results. When delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity impairs 2–3 weeks after chemotherapy, we then change the cytostatic drug combination immediately. We cannot say at this moment, whether an improvement of cytostatic drug therapy can be reached in this way.

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  1. I. Medical Department of the Marienkrankenhaus, Hamburg

    W. Weber, H. P. Missmahl & B. Mazloumi

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  1. W. Weber
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  3. B. Mazloumi
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Weber, W., Missmahl, H.P. & Mazloumi, B. Tuberculin and dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) tests in cancer patients before and after cytostatic drug therapy. Klin Wochenschr 56, 905–909 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01489216

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01489216

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