Eleven patients with laryngeal cancer associated with additional primary tumors underwent cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity tests and lymphocyte stimulation studies with phytohemagglutinin for evaluation of their cellular immunity. Five of the 11 patients were anergic or hypoergic as shown by skin tests to recall antigens and seven of nine patients had impaired lymphocyte transformation. Depressed immunity was more often observed in patients with an active malignancy. The level of serum immunoglobulins was elevated in two of eight studied patients, and in the remaining patients was within the normal range. All patients had a history of excessive smoking. Most frequently, second tumors were found in the lung, urinary tract and skin. The prognosis seemed to be determined by the additional tumor rather than by the laryngeal cancer.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BillrothT: Chirurgische Klinik: Wien 1871–1876: Bebst Einem Gesammt-Bericht Uber die Chirurgischen Kliniken in Zuerich und Wien Waehrend der Jahre 1870–76; Erfahrungen Auf dem Gebiete der Praktischen Chirurgie. Berlin, A. Hirschwald, 1879, p 258.
2.
BrownsonRJSessionsDGPorubskyES: Simultaneous malignant tumors in patients with head and neck cancer. Arch Otolaryngol94: 437–449, 1973.
3.
HymanGA: Increased incidence of neoplasms in association with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Scand J Haematol6: 99–104, 1969.
4.
MekoriTSherSRobinsonE: Suppression of the mitogenic response to phytohemagglutinin in malignant neoplasia: Correlation with clinical stage and therapy. J Natl Cancer Inst52: 9–12, 1974.
5.
BurchPRJ: The Biology of Cancer.Edinburgh, M.T.P. Press LTD, 1976.
6.
DellonALChretienPBPotvinC: Multiple primary malignant neoplasms: A search for an immunogenetic basis. Arch Surg110: 156–160, 1975.
7.
BartalAHaaszRSteinerM: Cellular immunity in patients with multiple primary tumors. Cancer Immunol Immunother2: 195–199, 1977.
ManciniGCarbonaraAOHermansJF: Immunochemical quantitation of antigens by single radial immunodiffusion. Immunochemistry2: 235–254, 1965.
16.
WaneboHJJunMoo YoungStrongEW: T cell deficiency in patients with squamous cell cancer of the head and neck. Am J Surg130: 445–451, 1975.
17.
JenkinsVKRayPEllisHN: Lymphocyte response in patients with head and neck cancer. Effect of clinical stage and radiotherapy. Arch Otolaryngol102: 596–600, 1976.
18.
BerlingerNTGoodRA: Contemporary immunologic considerations in head and neck tumors. Otolaryngol Clin North Am7: 859–883, 1974.
19.
EilberFRMortonDLKetchamAS: Immunologic abnormalities in head and neck cancer. Am J Surg128: 534–538, 1974.
20.
ParkerRAlexanderSShaheenOH: On the immunology of head and neck cancer — A prognostic index. Preliminary communication. J Laryngol Otol89: 687–695, 1975.
21.
StefaniSKermanRAbbateJ: Serial studies of immunocompetence in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. Am J Roentgenol126: 880–886, 1976.
22.
MandelMKiehnCL: The prognostic significance of delayed cutaneous reactivity in head and neck cancer patients. Plast Reconstr Surg53: 72–76, 1974.
23.
LundyJWaneboHPinskyC: Delayed hypersensitivity reaction in patients with squamous cell cancer of the head and neck. Am J Surg128: 530–535, 1974.
24.
WynderELCoveyLSMabuchiK: Environmental factors in cancer of the larynx. A second look. Cancer38: 1591–1601, 1976.
25.
SchottenfeldDGanttRCWynderELL: The role of alcohol and tobacco in multiple primary cancers of the upper digestive system, larynx and lungs — A prospective study. Prev Med3: 277–293, 1974.
26.
RunkePVos-BratLC: Immunoglobulin concentration, PHA response of lymphocytes and some antibody levels in healthy smokers, abstracted. International Conference on Immunity and Tolerance in Oncogenesis, University of Perugia, 1969.
