[Clinical significance of T lymphocyte subset changes after first line chemotherapy in peripheral blood from patients with advanced stage adenocarcinoma cell lung cancer].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The immune function disorder relates closely to the occurrence, metastasis, and prognosis of cancer. T lymphocyte subsets take an important role in immune function. We identified the dynamic changes of the immune system by investigating the levels of T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of lung cancer patients with advanced stage adenocarcinoma undergoing first line chemotherapy. The results aided the search for rational chemo-immunotherapy strategies in lung cancer treatment. METHODS Samples from 49 patients with pathologically demonstrated advanced stage adenocarcinoma cell lung cancer were compared with those from 33 healthy donors. Subsequently, the patients were separately treated with Docetaxol-based or Pemetrexed-based therapy. Peripheral blood samples at different time points after therapy were analyzed by flowcytometry. The lymphocyte subsets of the total lymphocytes were compared. Independent sample t test was used for the quantitative data analysis. RESULTS The percentage of CD3+, CD3+CD4+, CD4+CD25+ cells of the lung cancer patients significantly varied from those of the healthy donors, the P values are 0.012, 0.034 and 0.006 separately. The CD3+ and CD3+CD4+ levels increased significantly on the 4th and 7th-10th day post-chemotherapy, which return to normal levels on the 21th day. The CD3+ level increased significantly both in the treatment group on all time points, while the CD3+, CD3+CD4+, CD4+/CD8+ levels significantly increased and the CD3+CD8+, CD8+CD28- levels significantly decreased on the 4th day in Pemetrexed group. The CD3+CD4+ levels increased significantly on the 4th and 7th-10th day and the CD3+CD8+, CD8+CD28- levels decreased on the 4th day in partial response group. CONCLUSIONS The immune function of advanced stage adenocarcinoma cell lung cancer patients was evidently suppressed, and was restored at the 4th day, followed by a reduction at the 21st day after chemotherapy. On the 4th day, Pemetrexed showed better effect on the immune system. The change of immune system post-chemotherapy could be related with the prognosis.