[Immune reconstitution in advanced ovarian cancer patients undergoing first line chemotherapy].
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the numbers and proportions of lymphocyte subsets in advanced ovarian cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, so as to identify whether there is immune reconstitution after chemotherapy, and seek rational chemo-immunotherapy strategies in ovarian cancer treatment.


METHODS
Blood samples from each ovarian cancer patient were obtained before (S(0)) and at day 5-7 (S(1)), day 12-14 (S(2)) and day 25-28 (S(3)) after chemotherapy in 13 patients. Flow cytometry technique was employed to analyse the numbers, proportions of CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+), CD4(+) CD25(+) Treg and memory-like phenotype lymphocyte subsets.


RESULTS
Lymphopenia was observed at S1 after chemotherapy, but lymphocytes were found gradually recovered after S1. The numbers of CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+) T cells and CD4(+) CD25(+) Treg cells reduced to the lowest on S(1). The proportions of CD8(+) T cells and CD4(+) CD25(+) Treg cells reduced to the lowest on S(1) and S(2) respectively. The proportions of CD45RO(+) memory T cells increased significantly on S(2) while the proportion of CD8(+) CD45RA(+) T cells decreased remarkably on S(2).


CONCLUSIONS
Paclitaxel and carboplatin induce lymphopenia at day 5-7 after chemotherapy, then comes the temporary immune reconstitution. It probably turns out that the "window period" during immune reconstitution offers a best opportunity for cancer immunotherapy.
Feng
Qin-mei
QM
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200001, China.
DI
Wen
W
Wu
Xia
X
D000818:Animals; D051927:CD24 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D051928:CD47 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000009:adverse effects; D002452:Cell Count; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D051927:CD24 Antigen; D051928:CD47 Antigen; D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel