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Nasopharyngeal and adjacent neoplasms: A clinico-pathologic and immunologic study

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Summary

Thirteen cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and 16 cases of non-NPC tumors in the nasopharynx or in adjacent locations were investigated clinically, immunologically, and pathologically. All tumors were classified according to the TNM classification, and the stage and course of the disease was correlated with the histological tumor type, the T- and B-cell distribution in tumor tissue and in the peripheral blood, as well as with antibody titers against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The results showed a positive correlation of decreased T- and B-cells in tumor tissue and of decreased T-cells in the peripheral blood with the extend of the tumor in both NPC and non-NPC cases, with some exceptions of lymphocyte rich neoplasms (lymphoepithelial carcinoma and malignant lymphoma). Antibodies against EBV (early antigen and capsid antigen) became progressively elevated with increasing tumor stage in NPC-cases but not in non-NPC cases. The latter, however, was observed only in two histological types of NPC's: anaplastic carcinoma and lymphoepithelial carcinoma; titers in the remaining tumor types stayed insignificant.

Zusammenfassung

Dreizehn Fälle nasopharyngealer Carcinome (NPC) und 16 Fälle nicht-nasopharyngealer Carcinome in der gleichen oder in benachbarter Region wurden klinisch, pathologisch und immunologisch untersucht. Alle Tumoren wurden entsprechend der TNM-Klassifikation eingruppiert, und das Ausbreitungsstadium und der Verlauf der Erkrankung wurden korreliert mit dem histologischen Tumortyp, der T- und B-Lymphozytenverteilung im Tumorgewebe und im peripheren Blut sowie mit den Antikörpertitern gegen Epstein-Barr-Virus (EBV). Die Ergebnisse zeigten deutliche Beziehungen zwischen Abnahme prozentualer T- und B-Zellen im Tumorgewebe und T-Zellen im peripheren Blut und dem Ausbreitungsstadium des Tumors bei NPC als auch bei nicht-NPC-Fällen; eine teilweise Ausnahme bildeten lediglich lymphozytenreiche Neoplasien (lymphoepitheliale Carcinome und maligne Lymphome). Antikörper gegen EBV (Frühantigen und Kapselantigen) zeigten eine mit dem Tumorstadium zunehmende Erhöhung bei NPC-Fällen, jedoch nicht bei nicht-NPC-Fällen. Auch bei NPC-Fällen wurde dieses Phänomen nur bei zwei histologischen Typen beobachtet: Bei anaplastischen Carcinomen und bei lymphoepithelialen Carcinomen; die Titer der übrigen Tumortypen blieben unauffällig. Die Bedeutung dieser Befunde wird diskutiert.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ENT Clinic and Immunopathology Laboratories, Pathology Institute, University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Straße 9, D-5000, Köln 41, Germany

    Ch. Uhlmann, G. R. F. Krueger, K. Sesterhenn, K. -G. Rose, D. V. Ablashi & F. Wustrow

  2. National Cancer Institute, NIH, USA

    Ch. Uhlmann, G. R. F. Krueger, K. Sesterhenn, K. -G. Rose, D. V. Ablashi & F. Wustrow

Authors
  1. Ch. Uhlmann
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  2. G. R. F. Krueger
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  3. K. Sesterhenn
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  4. K. -G. Rose
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  5. D. V. Ablashi
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  6. F. Wustrow
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Additional information

We are indebted also to Prof. Dr. H. zur Hausen for the determination of anti EA and VCA titers in some of our patients. We are most grateful for exellent technical and photographic help to Mrs. U. Wenning, Miss B. Koch, Mr. B. Raftery, and Mr. R. Grossmann

Immunopathologic and tissue culture studies were supported by grants of the Volkswagen Foundation, the German Science Foundation, and the State Ministry of Science and Research of Northrhine-Westfalia

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Uhlmann, C., Krueger, G.R.F., Sesterhenn, K. et al. Nasopharyngeal and adjacent neoplasms: A clinico-pathologic and immunologic study. Arch Otorhinolaryngol 218, 163–177 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00455551

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00455551

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