Lymphoid subpopulation changes in regional lymph nodes in squamous head and neck cancer

Lymph nodes from 10 normal patients and regional lymph nodes (RLN) from 19 patients with squamous cancer of the head and neck were evaluated as to their lymphoid subpopulations. In comparison to normal lymph nodes, RLN from cancer patients demonstrated a marked increase in the proportion of cells with membrane immunoglobulin, the receptor for the third component of complement, and the receptor for the Fc portion of immunoglobulin G. The increased Fc receptor cells were not Fc-bearing thymus-derived lymphocytes, inasmuch as they separated with the non-sheep erythrocyte-lymphocyte rosette-forming population. The overall thymus-derived lymphocyte percentage in RLN was proportionally decreased. A transition from the normal lymph node composition to the altered lymphocyte profile seen in RLN was demonstrated on moving from distal lymph nodes to RLN within the lymphatic drainage of a tumor. Lymph nodes involved with tumor also showed the pattern of bursa equivalent cell population increases.