Inhibition of E rosetting and of OKT 11 in patients with oral dysplasia and neoplasia.

: A group of patients with oral dysplastic or early neoplastic lesions has been followed for 6 years to examine the change in ALS (antilymphocyte serum) induced 25% E rosette inhibition during the course of their disease. Control patients with other oral problems were examined similarly. The E rosette inhibition titer differences seen in our previous studies between control and diseased patients do not appear to persist with a longitudinal examination of these patients. While at early examination the patients exhibit higher inhibition titers than controls, later analysis shows that they seem to return to normal. To improve methodology, inhibition of OKT 11 uptake was substituted for E rosette inhibition and it is clear that both methods measure the same phenomenon. Thus, the former is more accurate and quantitative than the latter and will be used in future work. Continuation of these studies with the examination of more patients will be of value in assessing possible T lymphocyte changes in patients with oral lesions.