The Prognostic Significance of Radiation-Related Eosinophilia

Abstract

A retrospective analysis of 94 patients treated by external radiotherapy for ovarian or endometrial cancer was done to determine whether radiation-related eosinophilia (R.R.E.) has prognostic significance. The study indicates that R.R.E. was more marked and occurred more frequently in early cancer. It suggests also that for all patients with R.R.E., the prognosis was better: the three-year survival was 65.6% compared to 47.3% for those without R.R.E. For ovarian cancer, the difference was more pronounced: 54.6% and 10.6%, respectively. R.R.E., like delayed hypersensitivity, may be a useful parameter of immune status.