Interleukins 7 and 12 are expressed in head and neck squamous cancer

Interleukin 7 (IL-7) and IL-12 have major roles in cell-mediated turnour im munity. In head and neck squamous cell cancer, depressed cell-mediated immu nity 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 identi fy IL-7 and IL-12 expression in snap-frozen tumour specimens from 25 patien ts with HNSCC and the results of immunohistochemical staining were semiquan titatively 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 be tter survival was associated with high expression of IL-7 and IL-12, this b eing more pronounced with IL 7. The universal expression suggests that the depressed cell-mediated immunity in HNSCC is not caused by reduced producti on of IL-7 and IL-12. Further studies with larger cohorts, especially of IL -7, are certainly warranted.