E rosettes in the uranium miners with lung cancer

Rosette forming cells (RFC) were evaluated in the peripheral blood in healthy persons, and in lung cancer and chronic bronchitis patients. The levels of RFC in miners exposed to radiation and intact were compared. Two types of rosettes were listed 1) lymphocytes binding 1 or 2 sheep red blood cells (SRBC), 2) lymphocytes binding 3 or more SRBC. The sum of both types was calculated. Lung cancer patients were divided according to the TNM classification and histological types. The relative and absolute numbers of RFC in 1 μl of peripheral blood showed a reduced capacity of peripheral T-lymphocytes to form rosettes not only in patients with cancer or chronic bronchitis but also in controls exposed to radiation. It was also established that the control group exposed to radiation did not differ from cancer or chronic bronchitis patients. (author)