Down-regulation of zeta chain and zeta-associated protein 70 (Zap 70) expression in circulating T lymphocytes in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate zeta chain and Zap 70 expression in T lymphocytes of patients with laryngeal cancer in relation to surgical treatment.


METHODS
This study investigated, by dual-color flow cytometry, zeta chain and Zap 70 expression in the circulating T lymphocytes of 13 patients with laryngeal cancer patients before and after surgical treatment.


RESULTS
Patients exhibited a significant lower expression of both zeta chain and Zap 70 compared to healthy normal controls; no statistical differences were observed after surgical treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this investigation seem to indicate that both the zeta chain and the Zap 70 expression in circulating T lymphocytes are down-regulated in patients with laryngeal cancer and that these changes do not immediately return to normal after surgery. Flow cytometry analysis may represent an easy-to-use procedure for monitoring the immune status of patients with laryngeal cancer.
Pignataro
Lorenzo
L
Deparment of Otolaryngology and Institute of General Pathology, Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Pagani
Daude
D
Brando
Bruno
B
Sambataro
Giuseppe
G
Scarpati
Barbara
B
Corsi
Massimiliano M
MM
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D051746:ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase / Q000378:metabolism*
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; C054979:antigen T cell receptor, zeta chain; D051746:ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase