Impact of radiotherapy with and without concurrent cisplatin on lymphocyte subpopulations in cervical cancer patients.
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.
Bachtiary
Barbara
B
Department of Radiation Oncology and Radiation Biology, Medical University Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria. Bachtiary@gmx.at
Herbacek
Irene
I
Zideck
Thomas
T
Knocke
Thomas-Hendrik
TH
Dimopoulos
Johannes
J
Poetter
Richard
R
Micksche
Michael
M
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*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002945:Cisplatin