Cluster of differentiation 8 T-cell population in the laryngeal mucosa of smokers with laryngeal cancer.

OBJECTIVE

To study the cluster of differentiation 8 population in the laryngeal mucosa of patients with laryngeal carcinoma. To our knowledge this is the first paper to address this issue.

METHODS

The study group included 40 patients with known laryngeal cancer who were scheduled for laryngectomy. The control groups included 10 smokers and 10 non-smokers who were scheduled for microlaryngeal surgery. Specimens from the three groups were processed for histopathological and histochemical evaluation.

RESULTS

In patients without cancer of the larynx, the number of cluster of differentiation 8 lymphocytes was greater in smokers than non-smokers. The number of cluster of differentiation 8 lymphocytes was greatest in smokers with laryngeal cancer, and the difference between this group and the two control groups was statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

The study showed that smoking increased the number of cluster of differentiation 8 T-lymphocytes in the laryngeal mucosa. The increase was greatest in patients who had developed laryngeal cancer.