T-lymphocyte subsets in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

T-lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of patients previously untreated for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were investigated using monoclonal antibodies under flow cytometry before starting treatment. T-lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of patients with squamous cell carcinoma did not significantly differ from those in the peripheral blood of healthy subjects, patients with benign tumors of the head and neck, patients with chronic sinusitis and patients with benign otolaryngological diseases. The necessity to investigate the function of T-lymphocyte subsets was suggested. It was furthermore suggested that T-lymphocyte subsets in cancerous tissues should be investigated.