title: In vitro T-lymphocyte function in head and neck cancer patients.
abstract: T-lymphocyte cell function was studied in vitro in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 61 male patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas compared to 46 control patients. Patients older than 80 years or with reduced tumor-related performance status as measured by Karnofsky score less than 75 were excluded. In contrast to previous similar studies, control subjects ensured a minimum stress load by sampling all patients on the day of either diagnostic or therapeutic surgery. PBMC were separated by density-gradient centrifugation and subsequently cultured with autologous sera in vitro. The mitogen concanavalin A (Con A), which stimulates all T-cell clones, was employed. Findings showed that increased Con A stimulation and PBMC proliferation occurred with PBMC from cancer patients compared to that from control patients. In contrast, no differences could be detected with respect to the stimulated supernatant level of interleukin-2, interleukin-4 or interferon-gamma between the groups. These results suggest that T-lymphocytes from PBMC are generally affected by neoplastic disease through either a supporting cell or serum factor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Heimdal
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Aarstad
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aakvaag
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olofsson
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D002465:Cell Movement; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D007378:Interleukins / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D007378:Interleukins; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D013739:Testosterone; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D011388:Prolactin; D013972:Thyrotropin; D006854:Hydrocortisone