[Prognostic value of changes of peripheral blood T cell subsets after thermoradiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prognostic value of changes of peripheral blood T cell subsets after thermoradiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).


METHODS
Peripheral blood T cell subsets in 20 normal subjects (control group), 30 NPC patients undergoing thermoradiotherapy, and 20 NPC patients undergoing radiotherapy were detected by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
The percentages of CD3+CD4+ and CD8+CD28+ cells were decreased and the percentages of CD3+CD8+ and CD8+CD28- cells increased as compared with the measurements in normal persons. One month after thermoradiotherapy, the percentages of CD3+CD4+ and CD8+CD28+ cells further decreased and the percentages of CD3+CD8+ and CD8+CD28- cells further increased, which continued to worsen 3 months after the treatment and appeared to be related to the survival of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
T cell subsets of NPC patients are abnormal and their immune functions depressed in NPC patients within a long period after thermoradiotherapy. CD8+CD28+ and CD8+CD28- T cell subsets can be significant for prognostic assessment in these patients after thermoradiotherapy.
Qiu
Yu-rong
YR
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nanfang Hospital, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. OYR@fimmu.com
Zheng
Lei
L
Yang
Chun-li
CL
Wei
Dong
D
Sun
De-hua
DH
D000328:Adult; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
D018106:CD28 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens