Myocutaneous flaps in patients with head and neck cancer retain their immunological capacities in an activated functional state.
Free/pedicled myocutaneous flaps used as functional replacement after radical dissection of advanced stage squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity/oropharynx were examined by immunohistochemistry (APAAP-technique). Biopsies from eight patients were taken at the time of surgery and at 3 and 5 months post-operatively. Fifteen monoclonal antibodies were used to detect surface antigens as markers of phenotypic changes of immune competent cells. In post-operative biopsies all antigens investigated increased significantly. Significantly higher numbers of CD45RO+ (P < 0.01) and CD45RA+ (P < 0.001) leukocytes were detectable. The majority of these leukocytes were TcR alpha/beta +/CD3+ T-cells, which increased in the CD4 (P < 0.05) and the CD8 (P < 0.001) subset. In addition, B-cells (P < 0.05), granulocytes (P < 0.05), NK cells (CD16+ lymphocytic cells; P < 0.05) and mature macrophages (25F9+cells; P < 0.01) were increased. Intra- and subepidermally a significantly (P < 0.01) higher number of dendritic-/Langerhans cells (CD1a+) was detectable. In post-operative biopsies, the activation-associated antigens ICAM-1, VCAM and HLA-DR were expressed on significantly more mononuclear-/endothelial cells and on keratinocytes. Our findings indicate that the myocutaneous flaps still contained cells with immunological capacities.
Kornfehl
J
J
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, University of Vienna, Austria.
Formanek
M
M
Knerer
B
B
Vajs
A
A
Moser
D
D
Millesi
W
W
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000276:immunology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009060:Mouth Floor / Q000601:surgery; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000276:immunology*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens