Immunosuppression and human cancer: role of prostaglandins.

Prostaglandins, unsaturated fatty acid derivatives with diversified pharmacologic activity, have been implicated in the pathophysiology of many diseases. Prostaglandin E (PGE) levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in the plasma of 41 normocalcemic patients with various stages of malignancies. Delayed hypersensitivity was assessed by a battery of six recall skin test antigens (ST) and by Dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) sensitization and challenge. Twenty-five patients with one or more positive skin tests had a mean PGE level of 87+/-8 pg/ml, whereas 16 patients with negative ST had a mean PGE level of 96+/-12 pg/ml. Twenty-one DNCB negative patients had a mean PGE level of 98+/-12 pg/ml and eight totally anergic patients had a mean PGE of 96+/-12 pg/ml. All PGE values were within the normal range and there was no statistical difference between the four groups. (p less than 0.1). We concluded that circulating PGE does not correlate with the non-specific immunosuppression seen in cancer patients.