Abstract
Natural Killer (NK) and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity as well as surface markers of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in head and neck cancer patients are investigated with regard to the prognosis of patients.Patients (n=31) were grouped as follows:(1) untreated (UT) group (n=29), (2) treated, disease-free (TDF) group (n=21), and (3) group with recurrent disease (RD;n=6).NK and LAK activities were assayed by 51 Cr release method using K-562 cells in NK assay or Daudi cells in LAK assay as targets. Also LAK induction rate from PBL by interleukin-2 (IL-2) was measured.Analysis of surface markers of PBL (Leu 2, Leu 3, Leu 4, Leu 7, Leu 11, HLA-DR, and M1) including two color analysis (Leu 4×HLA-DR, Leu 2×Leu 15, Leu 3×Leu 8, and Leu 7×Leu 11) were performed using flow cytometry system.
NK activity (P<0.01) or LAK induction rate (P<0.01) in the TDF group was significantly increased as compared with the UT group.LAK activity in PBL without IL-2 treatment were not statistically different among TDF, RD, and UT groups.In the study of surface markers of PBL, a significant decrease in the percentage of Leu3+ (P<0.01) or Leu 3+8+ (P<0.01) cells, and significant increase in the percentage of HLA-DR+ (P<0.01), Leu 4+HLA-DR+ (P<0.05), or Leu 3+8- (P<0.05) cells in TDF group were observed as compared with each corresponding immunologial parameter in the UT group.In the RD group, the percentage of Leu 3+ (P<0.001) or Leu 4+ (P<0.05) cells was significantly decreased and the percentage of HLA-DR+ (P<0.01), Leu 7+ (P<0.05), Leu 11+ (P<0.05), or Leu 2+15+ (P<0.05) cells was significantly increased, when compared with the UT group.However, the difference between each pair of UT, TDF and RD groups with regard to the percentage of M1+, Leu 7+11-, Leu 7+11+, or Leu 7-11+cells in PBL was not significant.
