Interaction between repeated skin testing with recall antigens and temporal fluctuations of in vitro lymphocyte blastogenesis in cancer patients

The effect of skin testing with recall antigens on lymphocyte blastogenesis in vitro was studied in 50 patients with carcinoma. Significant enhancement of lymphocyte blastogenesis to different mitogens was observed following the application of a skin test battery of recall antigens. No additional increments in blastogenesis were observed subsequently with repeated skin testing using a single recall antigen (dermatophytin). These results emphasized the possibility of a combined effect resulting from multiple factors on studies of lymphocyte blastogenesis.