Changes of CD4 + T-cell subsets after radiofrequency ablation in lung cancer and its significance

• Published in: Journal of cancer research and therapeutics Vol. 12; no. 7; p. 166
• Main Authors: Shaobin, Wang, Yu, Xiong, Jiatian, Lin, Zaizhong, Chen, Luping, Dai, Junhui, Chen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 01.12.2016; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Angiogenesis; Antiretroviral drugs; Cancer therapies; Care and treatment; Case-Control Studies; Catheter Ablation; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Cytokines; Development and progression; Electrodes; Flow Cytometry; Gangrene; Health aspects; Humans; Immune response; Lung cancer; Lung Neoplasms - blood; Lung Neoplasms - immunology; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Lung Neoplasms - surgery; Lymphocyte Count; Medical prognosis; Metastasis; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Grading; Neoplasm Staging; Observations; Patient outcomes; Radiofrequency ablation; T cell receptors; T cells; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; Th1 Cells; Th17 Cells; Th2 Cells; United States > US
• ISSN: 0973-1482; 1998-4138; 1998-4138
• DOI: 10.4103/0973-1482.200609

To analyze the changes of CD4+ T-cell subsets following radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in lung cancer and the impact of RFA on the antitumor immunity. Flow cytometry was employed to detect CD4+ T-cell subsets in the peripheral blood from 45 healthy controls and 45 lung cancer patients before and after RFA. The correlation between CD4+ T-cell subsets and the clinical characteristics was discussed by comparing the results between different groups. Compared with the healthy controls, the lung cancer patients showed a decline in Th1 cells, but higher Th2, Th17, and Treg cells (P < 0.05). Th1 cell level and Th1/Th2 cell ratio were significantly lower for stage III/IV than Stage I/II and also lower for patients with Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score <60 than ≥ 60 (P < 0.05). The levels of Th2, Th17, and Treg cells were much higher for patients with Stage III/IV and KPS score <60 (P < 0.05). After 2 weeks of RFA, the level of Th1 cells and Th1/Th2 cell ratio increased, while the levels of Th2, Th17, and Treg cells declined (P < 0.05). For lesions with ablation volume ≥ 70%, the level of Th1 cells and Th1/Th2 cell ratio increased, whereas the levels of Th2, Th17, and Treg cells declined dramatically (P < 0.05). The level of Th1 cells declined in lung cancer patients, especially for patients with Stage III/IV and KPS score <60. After RFA, the level of Th1 cells and Th1/Th2 increased, whereas the levels of Th2, Th17, and Treg cells declined, indicating an improvement of antitumor immunity. The changes were more prominent for lesions with ablation volume ≥ 70%.