Interleukins 7 and 12 are expressed in head and neck squamous cancer.
Paleri, V;
Pulimood, A;
Davies, GR;
Birchall, MA;
(2001)
Interleukins 7 and 12 are expressed in head and neck squamous cancer.
Clinical otolaryngology and allied sciences, 26 (4).
pp. 302-306.
ISSN 0307-7772
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2273.2001.00475.x
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Interleukin 7 (IL-7) and IL-12 have major roles in cell-mediated tumour immunity. In head and neck squamous cell cancer, depressed cell-mediated immunity is well documented and may account for the poor prognosis. This is the first study to assess intratumour expression of IL-7 and IL-12 in head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC). Immunohistochemistry was used to identify IL-7 and IL-12 expression in snap-frozen tumour specimens from 25 patients with HNSCC and the results of immunohistochemical staining were semiquantitatively graded. Both IL-7 and IL-12 were expressed in all tumour samples and expression was not related to tumour stage or site. A trend towards better survival was associated with high expression of IL-7 and IL-12, this being more pronounced with IL 7. The universal expression suggests that the depressed cell-mediated immunity in HNSCC is not caused by reduced production of IL-7 and IL-12. Further studies with larger cohorts, especially of IL-7, are certainly warranted.