Lymphocyte populations in premalignant lesions and cancer of the oral cavity.

A comparison of the absolute numbers of leukocytes, proportions, and absolute numbers of various lymphocyte populations in patients with precancerous lesions and cancer of the oral cavity along with normal controls was carried out. Total leukocytes and lymphocytes showed reduction in their numbers in the patient group. B lymphocytes showed a significant increase in both its proportion and numbers in premalignant lesions while such an increase was not evident in oral cancer. Reduced T cell proportion and absolute number was noticed in both patient groups. Profound alteration was noticed in the circulating TG and TM populations of lymphocytes. TG cells were significantly increased in both patient groups. The TM population, on the other hand, showed drastic reduction in its numbers. These findings point towards an impairment of the immune response in the precancerous as well as the malignant stage of the disease.