[Effect of local immunotherapy of interleukin 2(IL-2) in combination with chemotherapy upon intratumoral lymphocytes in oral squamous cell carcinomas]

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of locoregional immunotherapy of interleukin 2 (IL-2) in combination with chemotherapy upon intratumoral lymphocytes in oral squamous cell carcinomas.

Methods: Thirty-four patients with stage T3 or T4 oral squamous cell carcinoma were randomly divided into two groups, and treated with two therapies. 23 cases of them received immunochemotherapy and 11 cases received PVP chemotherapy. Changes of T lymphocyte subsets and B cells at tumor site in the two groups were compared before and after therapy.

Results: The relative numbers of CD4+, CD8+, CD20+ before and after treatment in immunochemotherapy were respectively 36.96, 35.65, 28.65 and 56.61, 38.52, 38.70. The numbers of CD4+, CD20+ increased significantly after immunochemotherapy. However, in chemotherapy group, there was no significant difference in numbers of CD4+, CD8+ and CD20+ cells between pre and post treatment.

Conclusion: Immunochemotherapy for oral squamous cell carcinomas may play an important role in increasing local immunity.