[Cellular immunity in 3 siblings with cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract]

Although the number of carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract is increasing, there are not many reports in the literature about familial occurrence. Epidemiological studies have shown that the major causative factors are tobacco and alcohol abuse. But the possibility of an endogenous susceptibility is also discussed. A possible explanation is failure of the immune defense system. The author was able to examine immunologic patterns in three siblings with cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract. The results obtained so far indicate normal numbers of lymphocyte subpopulations in the peripheral blood, but with impaired function.