Definite vs adjuvant radiotherapy. Comparative effects on lymphocyte subpopulations in patients with head and neck squamous carcinoma

Journal Article · Fri Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1985 · Arch. Otolaryngol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1001/archotol.1985.00800130048004· OSTI ID:6081718

Wolf, G T; Amendola, B E; Diaz, R; Lovett, III, E J; Hammerschmidt, R M; Peterson, K A

The recent association of alterations in T-lymphocyte subpopulations and impaired cellular immunity prompted an investigation of the effects of radiotherapy (RT) on serial levels of lymphocyte subsets in 30 patients with head and neck squamous carcinoma. Percentage and absolute levels of T3, T4, T6, T8, T10, T11, and Leu 7 cells were measured before, during, and after RT at monthly intervals for six months and compared with levels in 40 normal subjects. Sixteen patients received curative and 14 postoperative adjuvant RT. Before treatment, mean subset levels were similar among the patient and normal groups except for elevated Leu 7 (natural killer) cells in patients with stage I and II disease. There were profound decreases in absolute levels of each subpopulation during and after RT. The percentage of T4 (helper/inducer) cells decreased, whereas that of T8 (cytotoxic/suppressor) and Leu 7 cells tended to increase. Compared with normal values, the mean T4/T8 ratio decreased significantly by six months after RT, when absolute levels of the subsets had rebounded to pretreatment levels in the definitive RT group but remained profoundly decreased in the adjuvant group. The differing recovery patterns suggest that factors other than RT may contribute to persistent immunosuppression following RT.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Michigan Hospitals, Ann Arbor
• OSTI ID: 6081718
• Journal Information: Arch. Otolaryngol.; (United States), Vol. 11
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
IMMUNOSUPPRESSION
RADIOINDUCTION
LYMPHOCYTES
BLOOD COUNT
RADIOTHERAPY
SIDE EFFECTS
CARCINOMAS
HEAD
NECK
PATIENTS
ANIMAL CELLS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY
BODY AREAS
BODY FLUIDS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DISEASES
LEUKOCYTES
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
RADIOLOGY
SOMATIC CELLS
THERAPY
560151* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man
550603 - Medicine- External Radiation in Therapy- (1980-)