Predictive value of CD8highCD57+ lymphocyte subset in interferon therapy of patients with renal cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the significance of pre-treatment levels of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets for survival of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients treated with interferon-a2b (IFN).


METHODS
CD3+, CD19+, CD16&56+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+CD45ROhigh and CD8highCD57+ lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of 85 advanced RCC patients were determined using flow cytometry. The survival of IFN-treated and non-treated patients was analyzed by gradually testing different cut-off levels of each lymphocyte subset.


RESULTS
Advanced RCC patients with > or = 30% CD8highCD57+ lymphocytes in the CD8+ subset had shorter survival compared to patients with < 30% CD8highCD57+ lymphocytes in the CD8+ subset (p = 0.01). Treatment with IFN increased overall survival only in the former subgroup of RCC patients (p = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
The present study suggests that the percentage of CD8highCD57+ lymphocytes in the CD8+ subset may have a prognostic significance for advanced RCC patients and may have a predictive value in patient selection for survival benefit due to treatment with IFN.
Characiejus
Dainius
D
Institute of Oncology, Vilnius University, Santariskiu 1, LT-2600 Vilnius, Lithuania. dainius@banga.lt
Pasukoniene
Vita
V
Kazlauskaite
Nijole
N
Valuckas
Konstantinas P
KP
Petraitis
Tadas
T
Mauricas
Mykolas
M
Den Otter
Willem
W
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D018959:CD57 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D018959:CD57 Antigens; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D005472:Fluorouracil