Recent theoretical and practical problems in the cell mediated immunological reactions in cases of laryngeal cancer.

It is considered that malignant tumors appear more often when cellular immunity is deficient. Skin DNCB tests were positive in 40% of the cases with early laryngeal cancer, as compared with the 85--90% of positive responses obtained in healthy persons. T-lymphocytes and their products (lymphokines and transfer factors) play an important role. Although B-lymphocytes and their humoral antibodies are the main factors contributing to faster tumor growth, an interaction can occur between T and B lymphocytes, leading sometimes to synergism. The patient's immunologic status during the course of disease and the local reaction of lymphocytes in the tumor area are two important elements in the prognosis and therapeutic approach.