Interleukins 7 and 12 are expressed in head and neck squamous cancer.
Interleukin 7 (IL-7) and IL-12 have major roles in cell-mediated tumour immunity. In head and neck squamous cell cancer, depressed cell-mediated immunity is well documented and may account for the poor prognosis. This is the first study to assess intratumour expression of IL-7 and IL-12 in head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC). Immunohistochemistry was used to identify IL-7 and IL-12 expression in snap-frozen tumour specimens from 25 patients with HNSCC and the results of immunohistochemical staining were semiquantitatively graded. Both IL-7 and IL-12 were expressed in all tumour samples and expression was not related to tumour stage or site. A trend towards better survival was associated with high expression of IL-7 and IL-12, this being more pronounced with IL 7. The universal expression suggests that the depressed cell-mediated immunity in HNSCC is not caused by reduced production of IL-7 and IL-12. Further studies with larger cohorts, especially of IL-7, are certainly warranted.
Paleri
V
V
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Bristol, UK. vinidpa@hotmail.com
Pulimood
A
A
Davies
G R
GR
Birchall
M A
MA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018307:Neoplasms, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D015851:Interleukin-7; D018664:Interleukin-12