Immunology of Head and Neck Cancer

Covalent linking of proteins and cytokines to suture: Enhancing the immune response of head and neck cancer patients

“…Zinc deficiencies have been associated with thymic involution and poor cellular immunity 101 . Zinc is normally incorporated into the thymus and used for the formation of zinc‐thymulin, which regulates T‐cell responses to ILs 102,103 and maintains cellular immunity. Reduced levels of zinc have been identified in HNSCC patients 76,77,101,104 and is an important element frequently lacking in this patient population.…”

Characterization of a spontaneously arising murine squamous cell carcinoma (SCC VII) as a prerequisite for head and neck cancer immunotherapy

“…These patients frequently have defects in cell-mediated immunity, which progress with disease. 5,6 Improvement of the impaired immune response is possible with the administration of certain cytokines and immune effector cells.…”

Anti-CD3/Anti-CD28 Monoclonal Antibody–Coated Suture Enhances the Immune Response of Patients With Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

“…Patients with HNSCC were chosen because of the known immunosuppression that exists in this patient population, whereby immune responses are maximally suppressed in tumorinfiltrating lymphocytes, followed by proximal lymph node lymphocytes, distal lymph node lymphocytes, and peripheral blood lymphocytes. [16][17][18][19] The immune responses measured were proliferation, cytokine production, and cellular phenotype during an 8-day period. This article examines a new method of T-cell activation with ␣CD3/␣CD28 MoAb-coated suture.…”

“…Patients with advanced-stage HNSCC were studied because of the known immunosuppression that occurs in this population of cancer patients. [16][17][18][19] The mean age of the patients studied was 51.7 years (range, 38-65 years). All patients had advanced stage III (n = 3) or IV (n = 8) HNSCC.…”