Serial studies of immunocompetence in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy

Studies of the immunocompetence of patients undergoing radiation therapy were carried out before and after treatment. The immunological evaluation is a valuable prognostic tool for patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. The degree of immunoresponsiveness is not related to the stage of the primary tumor, but it definitely correlates with the extent of lymph node involvemnt. This evaluation may permit identification of those cases for which immunotherapy is indicated.