title: Changes of gamma/delta T cells in blood after radiation therapy for prostatic cancer.
abstract: The changes of the size of gamma/delta T (gamma delta T) and alpha/beta T (alpha beta T) cell subsets in the blood were examined after radiation therapy (66 Gy) for prostatic carcinoma in 17 men. Following radiation both subpopulations of T cells were reduced to 52% and 36% of starting values, respectively. gamma delta T cells were not replaced four months after radiation therapy, in contrast to alpha beta T cells, which were increased to 47% of initial values. The T alpha beta/T gamma delta ratio was significantly reduced immediately after radiation therapy but was normalised after four months. Blood gamma delta T cells may be reduced for a long time after radiation therapy and this may be true also for gamma delta T cells in irradiated epithelial organs and tumours.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, South Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Svensson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Petrini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta