[Dynamic observation and clinical significance of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine on interleukin-2 system, T cell and erythrocyte immune system in patients of lung cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To study the dynamic changes and its clinical significance of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine (TCM-WM) on IL-2 system, T cell and erythrocyte immune system in patients of lung cancer.


METHODS
Forty-eight cases with lung cancer were randomly divided into two groups: TCM-WM group (group I) and the chemotherapy group (group II); and 20 healthy subjects were simultaneously compared. The relevant immune indices, clinical symptoms and signs, changes of solid tumor and living quality were dynamically observed.


RESULTS
(1) The serum IL-2 level of lung cancer patients were significantly lower, while sIL-2R level higher than that of the healthy subjects. And they were raised and lowered respectively after treatment, especially in the group I, but different from the control group yet. And there were highly negative correlation between IL-2 and sIL-2R levels. (2) The percentage of CD3, CD4 and the ratio CD4/CD8 were decreased markedly in both groups, except CD8 which was increased markedly. And the percentage of RBC-C3b RR was obviously lower, while that of RBC-ICR was obviously higher. But the above-mentioned indices could be improved after treatment, especially in the group I, and there were highly positive correlation between CD4/CD8 ratio and RBC-C3bRR. (3) After treatment, all above-mentioned indices were changed significantly to their corresponding opposites. However, in regard to the degree of improvement, the patients of group I were in a better position than those of group II. At the same time, improvement of their clinical symptoms and signs, change of solid tumor and living quality also showed advantageous.


CONCLUSIONS
The therapeutic superiority of TCM-WM on lung cancer may be related with the modulation on immune function. Thus we can say that the effect of TCM-WM is better than that of chemotherapy alone.
Fan
G
G
Affiliated Subei Hospital, Medical College of Yangzhou University, Jiangsu (225001).
Zong
W
W
Zuo
J
J
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007376:Interleukin-2