Prognostic value of initial mononucleated cell counts in patients with stage III squamouns cell carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx

ABSTRACT

The prognostic value of initial mononucleated cell counts has been evaluated in 48 patients with stage 3 and 4 squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx. The patients were treated with synchronous 5 - fluorouracil weekly infusions and radiation therapy. Twenty-four patients [50%] were considered to have abnormal counts. The abnormal counts were significantly correlated to both T and N stages. All complete responders and 12 out of 17 partial responders had their counts within normal limits. The nonresponders group were 12 patients, normal-counts were fo++ und in 1 patient of them. Mononucleated cell counts abnormalities seem to have an important prognostic value