INFLUENCE OF CHEMOTHERAPY ON SUPEROXIDE ANION PRODUCTION BY POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES AND MONOCYTES IN PATIENTS WITH LUNG-CANCER

Superoxide anion (O2) production by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and monocytes (MN) in peripheral blood was evaluated in 13 lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Chemotherapy decreased O2 Production by PMN as well as MN. The amount of O2 production by these cells changed in parallel with cell counts. The lowest level occurred at 2 weeks and recovered to the control level at 4 weeks after chemotherapy. These results indicate that decreased O2 production by PMN and MN should be considered in addition to decreased counts when assessing defense mechanisms and susceptibility to infection of patients receiving chemotherapy.