Effects of radiation therapy on T-lymphocyte subpopulations in patients with head and neck cancer
Cellular immunity was assessed in 85 patients with head and neck cancer with monoclonal antibodies to lymphocyte surface antigens that identify total T cells, helper cells, and suppressor cells. The control group consisted of 22 healthy volunteers. Nine patients who had surgical procedures for benign diseases were also studied. Compared with the controls, the patients with cancer who received radiation therapy had a significant decrease in total lymphocytes, T cells, helper cells, suppressor cells, and decreased helper/suppressor cell ratio. Significant decreases in lymphocyte subpopulations were not detected in patients tested before treatment or in patients treated with surgery alone. The immune deficits observed were prolonged in duration, with some present in the patients studied up to 11 years after radiation therapy. This long-lasting immune depression may have relevance to tumor recurrences and second primaries in patients with head and neck cancer treated by radiation therapy and to attempts at increasing cure rates with adjuvant agents that improve immune reactivity.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore
- OSTI ID:
- 6292994
- Journal Information:
- Otolaryngol. Head Neck Surg.; (United States), Vol. 5
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
LYMPHOCYTES
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
LYMPHOPENIA
RADIOINDUCTION
RADIOTHERAPY
SIDE EFFECTS
HEAD
MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES
NECK
PATIENTS
ANIMAL CELLS
ANTIBODIES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY
BODY AREAS
BODY FLUIDS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DISEASES
HEMIC DISEASES
LEUKOCYTES
LEUKOPENIA
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MEDICINE
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOLOGY
SOMATIC CELLS
THERAPY
560151* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man
550603 - Medicine- External Radiation in Therapy- (1980-)