title: Impact of radiotherapy with and without concurrent cisplatin on lymphocyte subpopulations in cervical cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The impact of radiotherapy alone (RT-alone) and radiotherapy plus concurrent chemotherapy with cisplatin (RT-CHT) was determined for lymphocyte subpopulations in cervical cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four women were treated either with RT-alone (n=14) or RT-CHT (n=20). Peripheral lymphocytes were collected before, immediately after and 6, 12 and 24 weeks after completion of treatment. Flow cytometric analysis included total T-cells, T-helper-cells, T-suppressor-cells, T-cytotoxic-cells, NK-cells, B-cells and the CD4+/CD8+ratio.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-four weeks after treatment, B-cells had recovered to pretreatment levels whereas total lymphocyte counts, T-helper and T-cytotoxic-cells were still significantly reduced in both groups. In contrast, T-suppressor-cells and NK-cells had recovered to pretreatment levels only in patients who received RT-alone and were still significantly reduced in patients who received RT-CHT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RT-alone and RT-CHT induce a significant and prolonged suppression of all lymphocyte subpopulations. RT-CHT, but not RT-alone, causes a prolonged suppression of NK-cells and T-suppressor cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology and Radiation Biology, Medical University Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria. Bachtiary@gmx.at
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bachtiary
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Herbacek
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zideck
authors.forename: Thomas-Hendrik
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Knocke
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dimopoulos
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Poetter
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Micksche
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002945:Cisplatin