Possible association between immunocompetence and enhanced risk of multicentric carcinogenesis in both the stomach and other organs in patients with gastric cancer
- Authors:
- Published online on: May 1, 1997 https://doi.org/10.3892/or.4.3.557
- Pages: 557-560
Metrics: Total
Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Abstract
In a retrospective study, we analyzed the association between the immunocompetence and multicentric carcinogenesis in both the stomach and organs other than the stomach in patients with single gastric cancer (SGC) and those with multiple gastric cancers (MGC). The incidence of primary cancers in other organs in patients with MGC (4/17, 23.5%) was significantly higher than that with SGC (15/202, 7.4%). Our analysis of the immunocompetence revealed a trend towards decreased activity of NK cells and of mitogen-induced blastogenesis in patients with MGC as compared to those with SGC. In patients with SGC, patients with primary cancers in other organs had significantly lower levels of both PHA-induced blastogenesis and CD4/CDs, and revealed a greater trend towards decreased activity of both NK cells and Con A-induced blastogenesis than patients without other primary cancers. These findings may suggest that immunocompetence plays a role in the enhanced multicentric carcinogenesis not only in the stomach but also in cancers of other organs.