title: [Effect of retinoic acid (RA) on the T-lymphocyte subsets and T-cell colony of patients with colorectal cancer].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Retinoic acid (RA) is the derivative of vitamin A. It can inhibit the carcinogenesis and reduce the morbidity of experimental colorectal cancer. However, there are few reports about the effect of RA on the T-lymphocyte subsets and T-cell colony of patients with colorectal cancer. This study was designed to investigate the effect of RA on the function of immune system and provide theoretical data for clinical.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients with colorectal cancer were divided into the RA treating group (n=20) and control group (n=20) for prospective study. Peripheral blood in all the patients was preoperatively and postoperatively was collected. Subsets (OKT(3), OKT(4), OKT(8)) of T-lymphocyte were assayed. The ability to form T-cell colony and the IgG, IgM, IgA in peripheral blood were also determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) Comparing with preoperative in two groups, there was no significant difference on OKT(3). OKT(4) and ratio of T4/T8 significantly increased (P< 0.05) and OKT(8) decreased progressively postoperatively (P< 0.05). Comparing in two groups, OKT(3), OKT(4) and T4/T8 were significantly higher in RA treating group than in the control group (P< 0.05); But OKT(8) did not show difference between the two groups (P >0.05). (2) The ability to form T-cell colony was significantly lower in RA treating group than in the health human group, and higher than in the control group (P< 0.05). (3) Comparing with control group, postoperative 1 to 3 months, IgG and IgM significantly increased in RA treating group (P< 0.05). IgA did not show significant difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Applying RA after radical operation of colorectal carcinoma could promote the cellular and humoral immunity and improve immune state recover from immunosuppression in the patients with colorectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510630, PR China. drwhb@21cn.com
authors.forename: Hong-Bo
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Ji-Fu
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Gui-Hua
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014212:Tretinoin