The prognostic value of immunofluorescence from oral swabs in patients with tonsillar carcinoma

Fifty patients with various stages of squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil were included in the study. All sera of these patients contained antitumor antibodies of the IgG type, which seem to be directed against individual-specific and group-specific tumor cell surface antigen. Different dilutions of autologous antibodies were tested against the tumor specimen as well as against oral swabs taken from the patients after therapy. The autologous antitumor antibodies were visualized on the tumor cell and on the cytology swab by FITC conjugated antibodies from rabbits (anti-human IgG) in the indirect immunofluorescent assay. Although the use of autologous sera avoids the need of absorption, absorption of sera with autologous tumor cells eliminates the reaction completely, with allogenic tumors partially (Lewis et al., 1972). The prognostic value of humoral immune response in detecting recurrence (immunofluorescence study of oral swabs) is shown by the following observation. After operation swabs taken from the patient's tumor sites are immunofluorescence negative. In case of recurrence, the cells became positive 3-6 months before local recurrence of the tumor could be clinically detected.