Abstract
Interleukin 7 (IL-7) and IL-12 have major roles in cell-mediated tumour immunity. In head and neck squamous cell cancer, depressed cell-mediated immunity is well documented and may account for the poor prognosis. This is the first study to assess intratumour expression of IL-7 and IL-12 in head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC). Immunohistochemistry was used to identify IL-7 and IL-12 expression in snap-frozen tumour specimens from 25 patients with HNSCC and the results of immunohistochemical staining were semiquantitatively graded. Both IL-7 and IL-12 were expressed in all tumour samples and expression was not related to tumour stage or site. A trend towards better survival was associated with high expression of IL-7 and IL-12, this being more pronounced with IL 7. The universal expression suggests that the depressed cell-mediated immunity in HNSCC is not caused by reduced production of IL-7 and IL-12. Further studies with larger cohorts, especially of IL-7, are certainly warranted.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 302-306 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Clinical Otolaryngology and Allied Sciences |
Volume | 26 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2001 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Head and neck cancer
- Interleukin 12
- Interleukin 7
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Otorhinolaryngology