— Serum immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), and immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels were determined on 245 patients with carcinoma of the head and neck and on 92 controls. Ratios of these levels were calculated for each subject. The patients with cancer demonstrated elevated serum IgA levels (P <.0001) and elevated IgA/IgM and IgA/IgG ratios (P <.05). No differences were noted when the IgM/IgG ratios were compared between the cancer and the control groups. These observations are offered as evidence that previously reported elevations of serum IgA levels in patients with carcinoma of the head and neck are not merely an index of nonspecific increased immunoglobulin production in these patients.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BerlingerNTGoodRA: Contemporary immunologic considerations in head and neck tumors. Otolaryngol Clin North Am7: 859–883, 1974.
2.
LundyJWaneboHPinskyC: Delayed hypersensitivity reactions in patients with squamous cell cancer of the head and neck. Am J Surg128: 530–534, 1974.
3.
EilberFRMortonDLKetchamAS: Immunobiologic abnormalities in head and neck cancer. Am J Surg128: 534–538, 1974.
4.
MandelMAKiehnCL: The prognostic significance of delayed cutaneous reactivity in head and neck cancer patients. Plast Reconstr Surg53: 72–76, 1974.
5.
EasthamRJMasonJMJenningsBR: T-cell rosette test in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Arch Otolaryngol102: 171–175, 1976.
6.
OlkowskiZLWilkinsSA: T-lymphocyte levels in the peripheral blood of patients with cancer of the head and neck. Am J Surg130: 440–444, 1975.
7.
WanetersHJJunMYStrongEW: T-cell deficiency in patients with squamors cell cancer of the head and neck. Am J Surg130: 445–451, 1975.
8.
HughesNR: Serum concentrations of γ G, γ A, and γ M immunoglobulins in patients with carcinoma, melanoma, and sarcoma. J Natl Cancer Inst46: 1015–1027, 1971.
9.
BrownAMLallyETFrankelA: The association of the IgA levels of serum and whole saliva with progression of oral cancer. Cancer35: 1154–1162, 1975.
10.
WaraWMWaraDWPhillipsTL: Elevated IgA levels in carcinoma of the nasopharynx. Cancer35: 1313–1315, 1975.
11.
KatzAEYooTJHarkerLA: Serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels in carcinoma of the head and neck. Trans Am Acad Ophthalmol Otolaryngol82: 131–137, 1976.
12.
MandelMADvorakKDeCosseJJ: Salivary immunoglobulins in patients with oropharyngeal and bronchopulmonary carcinoma. Cancer31: 1408–1413, 1973.
13.
HenleGHenleW: Epstein-Barr virus specific IgA serum antibodies as an outstanding feature of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Int J Cancer17: 1–7, 1976.
14.
ManciniGCarbonaraAOHeremansIF: Immunochemical quantitation of antigens by single radial immunodiffusion. Immunochemistry2: 235–254, 1965.
15.
CassidyJTGordonGL: Human serum immunoglobulin concentrations: Prevalence of immunoglobulin deficiencies. J Allergy Clin Immunol55: 35–48, 1975.
16.
ScullyREMcNeelyBUGaldabiniJJ: Normal reference laboratory values. N Engl J Med298: 34–45, 1978.
17.
TomasiTBJr: Secretory immunoglobulins. N Engl J Med287: 500–506, 1972.
18.
GoodRARodeyGE: IgA deficiency. Antigenic barriers and autoimmunity. Cell Immunol1: 147–149, 1970.
