Adequate nourishment through total parenteral nutrition treatment may augment immune function in patients with colon cancer.
BACKGROUND
Our objective was to evaluate immune function after total parenteral nutrition (TPN) treatment in colorectal cancer patients.


METHODS
Data were collected from 11 patients with colorectal cancer who received total parenteral nutrition. Healthy medical staff volunteers were used as controls. Delay hypersensitivity skin test with eight agents tested was used before total parenteral nutrition (TPN) treatment. Phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation and mononuclear cytokine production (IL-1 beta, IL-2, IFN gamma), serum ICAM-1 and IL-6, and lymphocyte subpopulation including CD4, CD8, and CD4/CD8 ratio were measured before and after TPN treatment.


RESULTS
Each patient had at least four of seven positive skin tests. After TPN treatment, lymphocyte proliferation increased remarkably (27,450 +/- 16,800 vs. 41,738 +/- 28,484, p=0.0168) and showed no significant difference to control group (p=0.0269). Levels of IL-1beta, IL-2, and IFN gamma after LPS-stimulation showed no significant difference before and after TPN treatment. Serum ICAM-1 showed a significant difference (388 +/- 158 vs. 481 +/- 210, p=0.0023) before and after TPN treatment. IL-6 was significantly different between patient and control groups but not different between patients before and after TPN treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed a significant increase of mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation and intercellular adhesion molecular 1 (ICAM-1) level after TPN supply. Adequate nutrition through TPN may augment immune function.
Division of Allergy-Immunology-Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan.
Seng-Eng
SE
Ooi
Guang-We
GW
Chen
Chung-Tei
CT
Chou
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000276:immunology; D023422:Skin Irritancy Tests; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism
D016207:Cytokines; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1