T cell function and natural killer(NK) cell activity are altered in many patients of head and neck cancers. However, the correlation between these immunological alterations and tumor progression has not been elucidated yet. This study was
designed
to
assess the effect of tumor progression on the immunological variables, such as T lymphocytes and NK cell polpulations, and T4/T8 ratio.
We measured peripheral blood lymphocytes subpopulations in 60 patients with primary head and neck cancers, using monoclonal antibodies(CD3, CD4, CD8, CD16, and CD56), and analyzed these data by AJCC TNM classification system(1988).
In conclusions, T lymphocyte populations were decreased, NK cell populations were increased, and T4/T8 ratio was not affected in patients with head and neck cancers. These changes might be affected by TNM stage, and cervical metastasis might be
the
most
important factor to affect lymphocyte subpopulations.
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