Deficient immunity in head and neck cancer due to excessive monocyte production of prostaglandins

Monocytes from patients with head and neck cancer produce excessive PGE₂ which seems to be associated with decreased lymphoproliferation in vitro. This may be n pathological exaggeration of a normal homeostatic mechanism. It is speculated that a stimulus for excessive PGE₂ production could be immune complexes. Although PGE₂ suppresses many important immune processes relevant for neoplasia, it can also have complex and diverse effects on tumor cells. Caution should be exercised with human trials of prostaglandin synthctase inhibitors such as indomethacin.