Lymphoid cells in lymph nodes and peripheral blood of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Fifty-five patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were evaluated immunologically by measuring the level of T cells (E-RFC) and high affinity subset T cells (E-29) in the peripheral blood and peritumorous lymph nodes. A significant decrease (p less than 0.05) in mean percentage of E-29 was observed in cancer patient peripheral blood. In peritumorous lymph nodes, there was no difference in terms of total T cells or of high affinity subset T cells, as compared to non-malignant lymph nodes, or between tumor-free and metastatic lymph nodes. Macrophage content was much higher in metastatic than in tumor-free lymph nodes (p less than 0.05) and these macrophages frequently appeared to be more active when tested in phagocytosis of sheep red blood cells sensitized with IgG or IgM + C.