title: Changes in the immune cell population and cell proliferation in peripheral blood after gemcitabine-based chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a role in the immunosuppressive state in pancreatic cancer patients. We aimed to evaluate the changes of immune cells population including Tregs caused by gemcitabine (GEM)-based chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-three patients with pancreatic cancer were enrolled in this study, of which 32 received GEM- based chemotherapy. Blood samples were collected before and at least 2 weeks after the last dose of chemotherapy. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were subjected to flow cytometry analysis after labeling with anti-CD4, anti-CD25, and anti-Foxp3 antibodies. Other lymphocytes and NK cell markers were also measured. The proliferative capacity of PBMCs stimulated with anti-CD3 was analyzed using H(3) thymidine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage and number of Tregs were significantly decreased after chemotherapy (p = 0.032, p = 0.003, respectively). The other immune cells and the proliferative capacity did not change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that GEM-based chemotherapy produced an immunomodulatory effect via the depletion of Tregs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0004, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Homma
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakazawa
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matsuyama
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ichikawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Endo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects*; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000093542:Gemcitabine