Neck Node Immunoreactivity in Head and Neck Carcinoma

Abstract

T-lymphocyte subpopulations were quantitated in lymph nodes that contained metastatic tumor--or no metastasis--from patients who had squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract. In addition, the lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood were quantitated. The content of prostaglandin E2 within each node that was evaluated was also determined. Lymph nodes containing metastatic tumor had significantly higher helper/suppressor ratio than lymph nodes that were not involved. Quantification of the T-lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood did not indicate the presence of metastatic disease. Significantly more prostaglandin E2 was present in lymph nodes containing metastatic disease, in comparison to lymph nodes without metastatic disease. Thus, both the lymphocyte subpopulations and prostaglandin levels were found to differentiate lymph nodes with metastasis from those without.

Orofacial Pain in Cancer: Part I—Mechanisms

“…(Ballou et al, 2000). Tumors and their associated cells are able to secrete PGs (Bennett et al, 1980;Carter, 1985), and increased levels of PG have been associated with metastatic disease (Rolland et al, 1980;Mandell-Brown et al, 1986). Experimentally, PGE 2 will induce sensitization of multiple classes of cutaneous afferents, including C-polymodal nociceptors and A-␦ high-threshold mechano-nociceptors (Martin et al, 1987).…”

Neoadjuvant therapy changes the lymphocyte composition of tumor‐draining lymph nodes in cervical carcinoma

“…The lymphocyte composition of TDLN has long been a subject of investigation 5. More recently, lymphocytes colonizing TDLNs have been studied in a variety of solid tumors, including melanoma, head and neck carcinoma, breast carcinoma, lung carcinoma, gastric carcinoma, colorectal carcinoma, and kidney carcinoma, as well as gynecologic tumors 6–16. Collectively, these findings point clearly to the major role played by factors such as the type and stage of the tumor and the distance from the primary tumor site in governing the immune activities of TDLNs.…”