Abnormal microorganisms and cell-mediated immunity in patients with intraoral cancer

A substantial number of patients with intraoral malignant neoplasms have abnormal bacterial flora of skin, nasopharynx, and oropharynx, without a demonstrable relationship between tumor size, location, or degree of ulceration. Seventeen consecutive patients were studied to determine what relationship, if any, exists between the presence of abnormal microorganisms and the patients' immunological competence. Ten of 17 patients grew potentially pathogenic organisms, and all reacted to specific skin tests used to infer immunological competence. Thus, there appeared to be no relationship between cellular immunity and the presence of abnormal bacteria in patients with intraoral malignant neoplasms.