Hormonal therapy and alteration of lymphocyte proliferation

Suppression of the blastogenic response of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes in autologous serum obtained from patients with prostatic cancer, Peyronie's disease, and transsexuals following estrogen therapy has been observed. Observations of suppression of blastogenesis in patients with prostatic cancer and without malignancy receiving estrogen suggests that this suppression would appear not to be associated with a particular pathologic state or malignancy per se but, rather, the given mode of therapy. The relevance of these observations to the effect of estrogen on cell-mediated responsiveness in patients with hormonally dependent tumors and to the suggested association between uterine cancer and prolonged administration of diethylstilbesterol and the development of vaginal tumors in offspring found in association with material ingestion during pregnancy remains speculative.