T and B Lymphocyte Levels in Renal Cancer Patients: Influence of Preoperative Transcatheter Embolization and Radical Nephrectomy

Abstract

The mean percentage of T[thymus-derived] and B[bone marrow-derived] lymphocytes in peripheral blood was tested in 6 patients with renal cancer before and after preoperative transcatheter embolization and radical nephrectomy. While no significant difference was found in B lymphocyte levels compared to those in healthy control subjects a clear impairment in circulating T lymphocyte levels was observed in renal cancer patients who were not treated. This reduction in T lymphocyte levels persisted after embolization but there was a significant increase after radical nephrectomy.