Lateralizations of Head-Neck Cancers are not Associated with Peripheral Asymmetry of Cell-Mediated Immunity

Abstract

Earlier studies have reported right-sided lateralization for different organ cancers except breast cancer. In the present study, lateralization of head-neck cancers and their relation with the peripheral cell–mediated immune asymmetry was investigated. The sample was comprised of 42 men and 20 women diagnosed with cancer in the head-neck region. The diagnosis of cancer was made histopathologically. To measure the cell–mediated (type IV) immunity of both forearms, the tuberculin test (PPD test) was used in the subjects previously sensitized by BCG vaccine during the first year of age. Significant right-sided lateralization in men and the significant left-sided lateralization in women were observed in this study. There was no relation between the lateralization of cancer and the asymmetry of tuberculin reaction or the peripheral cell–mediated immune asymmetry.

Keywords:

• cancer
• head-neck cancer
• immunity
• lateralization
• tuberculin reaction