Background/aim: Chronic viral infection is an important risk factor in the development of cancer. Failure of immune response to clear the oncogenic infection can facilitate cancer progression. The aim of the present study was to analyze early and late activation of T-lymphocytes related to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection by the expression of markers of activation (CD69, CD25) on the surface of T-lymphocytes (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+) in patients bearing laryngeal cancer according to absence/presence immunoglobulin G antibodies to EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA1).
Materials and methods: Thirty-three patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LC) and 20 volunteers without cancer (control group) were enrolled in the study. Peripheral blood samples were collected from every individual. The markers of activation of T-lymphocytes were determined by flow cytometry, whereas commercial immunoenzymatic assay kits were used for detection of anti-viral capsid antigen (VCA) IgM, anti-VCA IgG, and anti-EBNA1 IgG.
Results: Increased early activation of CD8+ and CD4+ T-lymphocytes was found in patients with LC. There was a significantly higher proportion of CD4+ and CD8+T-lymphocytes expressing CD69 antigen in patients with LC compared to the control group. The proportion of CD4+ CD25+ T-lymphocytes in patients with LC positive for anti-EBNA1 IgG and anti-VCA IgM was lower compared to patients without antibodies to VCA IgM.
Conclusion: The dysfunction of immune response in larynx cancer patients could be associated with EBV infection.
Keywords: Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma; T-lymphocyte activation; antibodies to EBV.
Copyright© 2019, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.