T-lymphocytes and survival of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

The thymus-dependent lymphocytes (T cells) were enumerated in the peripheral circulation of 38 patients with histologically demonstrated squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. We have previously shown that this "total" T-cell count correlates well with degree of tumor involvement. A lower percentage of T cells were shown in patients with more advanced malignant neoplasms. Here we present follow-up data on these patients to evaluate the efficiency of the T-cell test in determining survival prognoses. We found no evidence that results of this test can extend prognostic abilities above those based on clinical staging. The survival data from six patients treated with a chemoimmunotherapy regimen of BCG vaccine, methotrexate sodium, and isoniazid did not demonstrate an increased survival time compared to patients at similar clinical stages who were treated by conventional use of surgery and irradiation.

T-cell rosette test in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

The percentage of total T-lymphocytes was measured in 38 patients with histologically diagnosed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. This measure of cellular immunity, which appears to be important in tumor-cell destruction, is demonstrably lowered in advanced stages of this disease. With the use of this test, the effect of a combined chemoimmunotherapeutic regimen consisting of methotrexate sodium, isoniazid, and BCG vaccine was sutdied. In this small series, no decrease of the T-cell count following treatment by methotrexate was demonstrated, except when a high dosage followed by leucovorin calcium was used. The BCG vaccine appeared to enhance T-cell counts, and one patient who was treated with cryosurgery had a dramatic increase in circulating T-lymphocytes. The T-cell test may be of clinical importance in the development of treatment sequences that provide maximum reduction of tumor cell mass while preserving host T cells.