Extent of squamous cancer of the lung correlates with alterations in circulating T cells

In the present study we have assessed the effect of tumor size, node involvement, and overall extent of disease on the circulating T-cell profile. The effect of cigarette smoking was taken into account by covariate analysis. Compared to normal controls, the T-cell profile for a group of patients with limited disease is only different when evaluated on the basis of lymph node involvement. If lymph nodes were clinically uninvolved by tumor, there was an increase in total lymphocytes with an increase in total OKT3+ and OKT8+ lymphocytes. There was a decrease in percentage, but in total number of OKT4+ cells. The OKT4+/OKT8+ ratio was reduced. The T-cell profile for patients with extensive disease demonstrated a rise in WBC and an increased total lymphocyte count secondary to an increase in OKT3+ and OKT8+ cells. These findings were primarily owing to the T3 tumor classification, which indicates gross extension. The major difference between the limited disease and extensive disease groups appeared to depend upon whether or not the lymph nodes were involved by tumor. In the patients with positive lymph nodes there was a decreased percentage as well as absolute number of OKT8+ cells. As a group, therefore, these patients appeared different from those with limited disease on the basis of a high OKT4+/OKT8+ ratio. Therefore, monitoring of the T-cell profile in these patients may be useful in assessing disease activity.