Immunological Aspects of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Uterine Cervix: Use of Leukocyte Adherence Inhibition Assay

Worldwide, squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix is the most common gynecologic malignancy. The squamous cell carcinoma of the human uterine cervix can serve as an ideal model to study host-tumor interrelationships. Due to the ease of accessibility of the cervix for inspection and evaluation by colposcopy, cytologic and tissue sampling, the entire spectrum of the malignancy can be studied. Squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix probably starts as intraepithelial neoplastic lesions which will gradually progress into different stages of dysplasia (mild, moderate and severe), carcinoma in situ, microinvasive and frankly invasive lesions. By using this spontaneous, dynamic human model, immunologic host-tumor interaction can be easily investigated.