title: The doubtful relevance of nonspecific immune reactivity in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region.
abstract: Nonspecific immune reactivity (lymphocyte stimulation with PHA, PWM; % T-cells; absolute T-cell levels; skin reactivity to DNCB) was determined in 30 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region and in 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. The tests were carried out in each patient at 4-week intervals for at least 1 year. The tumor patients were regularly controlled over a period of 5 years. A reduced nonspecific immune reactivity was detected for tumor patients as compared with healthy controls. However, there was no correlation between the follow-up tests on unspecific immune reactivity and the clinical course of the disease. Moreover it was not possible--on the basis of pretherapeutic unspecific immune reactivity and 5 years' clinical follow-up--to make any prognostic statement for the tumor patients tested.
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D012882:Skin Tests; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens