Cell-Mediated Immunity to Human Oral Carcinoma, and Cross Reactivity to Patients with Oral Leukoplakia Demonstrated by the Leukocyte Migration Test

Tissue extracts from 18 oral carcinomas were tested in the leukocytes migration capillary technique(LMCT) against autologous leukocytes and against leukocytes of healthy matched controls. The normal range was defined as the mean migration index (MI) of the leukocytes of the normal control ±2SD. Three carcinoma patients showed significant inhibition and one was on the lower borderline on the normal range. None showed stimulation. When leukocytes of leukoplakia patients were tested against normal intesttine and two homologous oral carcinoma extracts, significantly different MI's were found between carcinoma and normal intensive. The finding are compatible with a state of tissue-specific, cellular hypersensitivity against antigenic components present in oral leukoplakia and in oral carcinoma, and is possibly common between the two.