title: Correlation between the CD4+CD25high regulatory T cells and the outcome of chemotherapy in advanced esophageal carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In patients with esophageal carcinoma, local immune suppression and the expression of soluble immunosuppressive factors have been observed. We aimed to investigate the correlation between the level of CD4+CD25high regulatory T (Treg) cell and the outcome of chemotherapy in advanced esophageal carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight cases of advanced esophageal carcinoma patients were enrolled from June 2006 to December 2008. CD3+CD8+ T cell, CD3+CD4 T cell, CD4+CD25+ Treg cell and NK cell were determined before and after chemotherapy. After two cycles of chemotherapy, its effect was evaluated and the survival time was followed-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant downregulation of CD4+CD25high Treg cell was noted in the advanced esophageal carcinoma patients after chemotherapy (p<0.05). However, there were no obvious differences in the CD3+CD8+ T cell, CD3+CD4+ T cell and NK cell before and after chemotherapy (p>0.05). Log-rank test showed age and the decrease of CD4+CD25high Treg cell after chemotherapy correlated with the median survival time (p<0.05). The COX multivariate analysis also suggested that the decrease of CD4+CD25high Treg cell after chemotherapy was an independent prognostic factor (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the downregulation of CD4+CD25high Treg cell after chemotherapy may be a predictor for the outcome of chemotherapy in advanced esophageal carcinoma patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Hefei, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yubei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Chushu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Yifu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Changlu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Fengshou
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Manping
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Qiaohong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Pingsheng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents