[Pre- and post-chemotherapy expressions of Th1 and Th2 type cytokines and their clinical significance in gastric cancer patients].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the pre- and post-chemotherapy expression levels of Th1 and Th2 type cytokines in peripheral blood CD4(+) T lymphocytes, the changes of Th1/Th2 ratio and their clinical significance in patients with gastric cancer.


METHODS
The levels of specific cytokines in 60 gastric cancer patients were detected by flow cytometry before and after chemotherapy with FOLFOX4.


RESULTS
The level of IFN-gamma from peripheral blood CD4(+) T lymphocytes after chemotherapy in the whole group of gastric cancer patients was 11.4% +/- 5.0%, significantly higher than that (9.5% +/- 3.4%) before chemotherapy (P < 0.05). The level of IL-10 after chemotherapy was 3.6% +/- 1.2%, significantly lower than that (4.2% +/- 1.8%) before chemotherapy (P < 0.05). The ratio of Th1/Th2 (IFN-gamma/IL-4) after chemotherapy was 3.4 +/- 1.0 versus 3.4 +/- 1.6 before chemotherapy, without significant difference (P > 0.05). Interestingly, the levels of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha of peripheral blood CD4(+) T lymphocytes in 15 gastric cancer patients who achieved partial response (PR) after chemotherapy were 14.8% +/- 8.0% and 5.9% +/- 2.0%, respectively, both were higher than that (6.9% +/- 2.5% and 4.2% +/- 1.3%) before chemotherapy (both P < 0.05). Furthermore, the ratio of Th1/Th2 (IFN-gamma/IL-4) after chemotherapy was 4.0 +/- 1.5, significantly higher than 2.5 +/- 1.2 before chemotherapy (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Effective chemotherapy may reduce the tumor burden and relieve the shift of Th1/Th2 ratio. Improvement in immune function may be a very important therapeutic measure due to poor response of chemotherapy in gastric cancer patients.
Liu
Xiao-ling
XL
Department of Digestive Diseases, Shanxi Cancer Hospital, Taiyuan 030013, China. zlyylxl2008@163.com
Gao
Jun
J
Han
Cun-zhi
CZ
Qiao
Li-juan
LJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012074:Remission Induction; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D047368:Tumor Burden / Q000187:drug effects; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil