Cytokine production in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck may directly influence the clinical behavior of this aggressive neoplasm since cytokines act as autocrine/paracrine growth factors, as well as immunomodulators. In the present study, the cytokine profiles of 16 SCCs of the head and neck and matched autologous, noncancerous mucosa were determined and compared to normal oral mucosa. Cytokine gene expression in noncancerous mucosa was similar to normal oral mucosa. Levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) mRNA expression were significantly increased in SCC relative to the mean +/- 2 SD of noncancerous mucosa or normal mucosa (p<0.05). Immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated that GM-CSF protein was produced by epithelial cells in the SCC. The overall mRNA expression relative to noncancerous-mucosa or normal mucosa of interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-1 alpha and tumor necrosis factor-alpha was not significantly increased in SCC, however, individual tumors did show selected increases in mRNA expression for these cytokines. These extensive differences in the levels of cytokine mRNA expression could modulate interactions between the tumor cells and the corresponding host cells affecting the behavior of head and neck SCC.

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