[Immunohistochemical research for T cell subsets infiltrating in squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity by monoclonal antibody].

Specimens from 25 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity were examined immunohistochemically, using Streptavidin-Biotin-Peroxidase Complex (ABC) with a series of monoclonal antibodies. Subsets of the infiltrating T lymphocytes in cancer tissues were identified and analysed. We found that, T cell infiltration was predominant. The degree of T cell infiltration was correlated well to the differentiation of cancer and a significant difference existed in OKT 3 + count between the better and the poorer differentiated tumors. Comparing with OKT4+, OKT8+ cells were predominant around cancer nest, the ratio is 1:2. Our results suggest that T cell subsets play a key role in immune response to tumor. Variable quantities and ratio of T subset might be associated with immune regulation imbalance, and reflected malignant grade of cancer and prognosis of the patients.