Immune reactivity and clinical stage of patients with laryngeal cancer

Selected parameters of the immune system were determined in vivo and vitro in 200 patients with malignant tumours of the larynx in various stages of clinical progression before surgical treatment. The comparison of the results with those in control groups of healthy persons made division of the patients possible into groups (a, b, c, d), and statistical analysis of the differences. The distribution of the patients according to the mean values of these parameters showed that such parameters as: white blood cell count, absolute lymphocyte count, absolute granulocyte count, receptor activity of T-cells and enzymatic activity of peripheral blood neutrophils may have characteristic values in laryngeal cancer. Particularly significant from the standpoint of prognostic value were the results of delayed hypersensitivity response to protein pure derivative (PPD), phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and streptokinase-streptodornase (SK-SD).