title: Flow cytometric study of lymphocyte subsets in patients at different stages of colorectal carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The evaluation of lymphocyte subsets by using monoclonal antibodies in neoplastic patients has provided different results, partly in relation to the stage of the disease. Therefore, as a preliminary study of cancer patients treated with immunomodulating drugs, an analysis of lymphocyte subsets was performed in colorectal carcinoma patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, a flow cytometric evaluation of lymphocyte subsets was performed in 33 patients affected by colorectal carcinoma, with or without metastases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant reduction of hemoglobin concentrations and hematocrit was observed in all of these subjects, associated with an evident increase of white blood cells, platelets, and HLA DR-positive T lymphocytes, whereas CD 3-CD 4-positive and CD 20-positive lymphocyte concentrations were decreased. Subjects without metastases showed an evident decrease of hemoglobin concentrations and an increase of white blood cells, platelets and CD 3-HLA DR-positive lymphocytes, while patients with disseminated disease also had reduced mean values of hematocrit, red blood cells, CD 3-CD 4-positive, and CD 20-positive lymphocytes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The main differences between colorectal carcinoma patients with or without metastases were represented by a decrease of red blood cells, CD 3-CD 4-positive, and CD 20-positive lymphocyte concentrations in the latter group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Arista
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Callopoli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Franceschi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schiratti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Filippo
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Gandolfo
mesh_terms: D001772:Blood Cell Count; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins