T-lymphocyte subsets in patients with AJCC stage III gastric cancer during postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. American Joint Committee on Cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Advanced neoplastic diseases alter the immune response in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes of T-lymphocyte subsets during postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, and the relationship between T-lymphocyte subsets and tumor recurrence in AJCC stage III gastric cancers.


METHODS
Analysis of T-lymphocyte subsets was performed in 39 patients with stage III gastric adenocarcinoma who had undergone a curative gastric resection and postoperative chemotherapy. CirculatingT-lymphocyte subsets were measured on venous blood by using flow cytometry and monoclonal antibodies on preoperative day 1, and postoperative months 1, 3, and 6.


RESULTS
The 5-year disease-free survival rates of patients with stage 3a and 3b gastric cancer were 57.1% and 33.3%, respectively (p = 0.06). Values of CD3+ and CD4+ T-cells, and CD4+/CD8+ ratios were consistently lower in the recurrence group throughout the observation period. CD4+ T-cell counts were significantly lower in the recurrence group on preoperative day 1, and postoperative months 1 and 6. However, most values of the T-lymphocyte subsets showed no statistically significant difference when comparing the stage 3a and 3b disease patient groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that immunosuppression associated with CD3+ and CD4+ T-cell depression is a risk factor for postoperative recurrence in patients with stage III gastric cancer.
Cho
M Y
MY
Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Korea University, Sungbuk-Gu, Seoul. minyoung@korea.ac.kr
Joh
Y G
YG
Kim
N R
NR
Jung
S I
SI
Bae
J W
JW
Kim
Y C
YC
Koo
B H
BH
Whang
C W
CW
Suh
S O
SO
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015996:Survival Rate; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal