Responses of killer cells in head and neck cancer patients.

The immunological functions of 60 patients with head and neck cancers were evaluated using in vitro natural killer cell (NK) activity, lymphokine activated killer cells (LAK) and OK-432 activated killer cells, as well as by in vivo purified protein derivative (PPD) and Su-PS skin tests. There were significant differences of the above three activities between stage I cancer patients and stage III and/or IV. The PPD skin test corresponded significantly to LAK activity, while Su-PS corresponded significantly to OK-432 activated killer cell activity. Responses to interleukin-2 and OK-432 of stage IV patients with head and neck cancers were different from those of stage IV with gastrointestinal cancer. These in vitro assays were very useful for the evaluation of immunological function in head and neck cancer patients, especially before any biological response modifying treatment.