IMMUNOREGULATION OF T-LYMPHOCYTES BY AUTOLOGOUS SERUM IN ORAL-CANCER

Autologous sera from 130 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the buccal mucosa were evaluated for its immunoregulatory effect on the di fferent sheep erythrocyte resetting populations of the patients. All t he T cell populations were significantly reduced in oral cancer patien ts. The patient sera could be classified into blockers (0.5%-80% inhib ition) and enhancers (0.5 to 130% enhancement) based on their activity on rosette formation. The degree of blocking and enhancement showed s trong correlation with the severity of the disease with enhancers domi nating the lower grades and blockers dominating the severe grades of t he cancer. The dominance of enhancer sera in groups with better clinic al prognosis suggest the ser;um enhancing activity to be related to go od prognosis.