Effects of thermotherapy on Th1/Th2 cells in esophageal cancer patients treated with radiotherapy.
BACKGROUND
To investigate the effects of double radiofrequency hyperthermia on Th1/Th2 cells in esophageal cancer patients treated with radiotherapy.


METHODS
22 patients with esophageal cancer were divided into a radiotherapy group (10 cases) and a combined group (double radiofrequency hyperthermia combined with radiotherapy group, 12 cases). Both groups received conventional radiotherapy using a cobalt-60 therapy apparatus (TD60-66Gy/30-33F). Patients in the combined group also underwent double radiofrequency hyperthermia (2F/W, 8-10F). Before and after treatment, Th1, Th2, Tc1 and Tc2 cells in peripheral blood were determined with flow cytometry.


RESULTS
In the radiotherapy group, Th1 cell contents before and after radiotherapy were 17.5 ± 5.26% and 9.69 ± 4.86%, respectively, with a significant difference (p<0.01). The Th1/Th2 ratio was significantly decreased from 28.2 ± 14.3 to 16.5 ± 10.4 (p<0.01). In the combined group, Th1 cell content before radiotherapy was 15.9 ± 8.18%, and it increased to 18.6 ± 8.84 after radiotherapy (p>0.05), the Th1/Th2 ratio decreasing from 38.4 ± 36.3 to 28.1 ± 24.0 (p>0.05). Changes in Th2, Tc1 and Tc2 cell levels were not significant in the two groups before and after therapy (p>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Double radiofrequency hyperthermia can promote the conversion from Th2 to Th1 cells, and regulate the balance of Th1/Th2 cells.
Department of Radiotherapy, Nanjing Thoracic Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China E-mail : zaojiangcn@163.com.
Mei
M
Hong
Zao
Z
Jiang
Ying-Feng
YF
Zhou
D000368:Aged; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000528:radiation effects*