CD2 related immunoregulation in oral cancer

Sera from 93 patients with carcinoma of the buccal mucosa were analysed for its regulatory effect on CD2 antigen expression using anti CD2 monoclonal antibodies and sheep erythrocyte rosetting assay. The sera from 55.5% of the patients showed an inhibitory effect (blocker sera) while sera from 44.5% showed an enhancing effect (enhancer sera) on the CD2 antigen expression. An interesting feature observed was the dominance of enhancer sera in the early stages of the cancer, well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma and verrucous carcinoma. The regulatory effect of the sera had no correlation to the concentration of circulating immune complexes (CIC), ferritin, and serum immunoglobulins on an individual basis. Taken as a whole, the concentration of CIC was higher in the enhancer sera while the concentration of IgG and IgM were higher in the blocker sera. The dominance of enhancer sera in groups with better prognosis in clinical practice suggest a correlation with the presence of serum enhancing factors to a good prognosis. The correlation of regulatory status to the prognosis of the patient is examined as the second phase of the study.