Suppressed cellular immunity in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Abstract

The subsets and functions of lymphocytes were investigated in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The patients were divided into two groups comprising tumor-bearing patients and those in remission. There was no difference in the proportion of T cells among tumor-bearing, remission and healthy control groups. The percentages of inducer/helper T cells and natural killer cells were smaller in the tumor-bearing group than in the control group whereas the percentage of suppressor T cells was greater in the tumor-bearing group. Phytohemagglutinin-stimulated blastogenesis was markedly suppressed in the tumor-bearing group. The responsiveness to interleukin-2 of blastogenesis and of natural killer and lymphokine-activated killer activities was lowered in the tumor-bearing group. These parameters in the remission group were intermediate between those of the tumor-bearing and control groups. These results suggest that cellular immunity is suppressed in patients with NPC and that the suppressed condition still remains even in remission. Immunotherapy is considered to be indispensable for the proper treatment of NPC.

Statistical analysis of trace metals in the plasma of cancer patients versus controls

“…Markedly elevated concentrations of some toxic trace metals in cancer patients than healthy donors indicate a build-up in the metal levels in cancer patients at the expense of macronutrients, which exhibit lower mean concentrations in the plasma of cancer patients. A decreased plasma Fe in cancer subjects indicates that the utilization of heme molecule was impaired, because the cancer itself might have been affecting the bone marrow function adversely [58]. The statistical distribution parameters evidenced that the metal data in cancer patients are spread over large concentrations as compared with the controls, as reflected by range, S.D., S.E.…”

Exosomes released by EBV-infected nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells convey the viral Latent Membrane Protein 1 and the immunomodulatory protein galectin 9

“…In this context, it will be extremely important to confirm that exosomes carrying LMP1 and/or galectin 9 are released by malignant NPC cells in situ . Moreover, alterations of systemic immunity has been reported in NPC patients [39,40]. It will be important to investigate the presence of LMP1 and/or galectin 9 containing exosomes in the biological fluids of these patients.…”

Second primary cancers in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a pooled analysis of 13 cancer registries

“…Since cellular immunity is suppressed in patients with NPC and the suppressed condition still remains after remission [23], immune suppression might explain the increased incidence of NHL and NMSC after NPC. Although an increased NPC incidence was reported in HIV-infected persons in Africa based on three cases [24], a large study conducted in the US [25] did not show this association.…”