title: Host Immunity Influences the Efficacy of Combined Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Liver Cirrhosis Patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It has been reported that Th2 cytokines down-regulate antitumor immunity, while activation of Th1 cells promotes such immunity. The aim of this study was to assess changes of host immunity in relation to efficacy in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC) treated by combined intra-arterial chemotherapy (CIAC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-three adult Japanese LC patients who had aHCC received CIAC. Blood samples were collected before and after CIAC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven of the 43 patients showed a partial response (group PR) and 21 patients had stable disease (group SD), but 11 patients showed no response (group PD). There were no significant differences of Th1 or Th2 cells between before and after CIAC in each group. However, groups SD and PD had higher levels of Th2 cells than in group PR before and after CIAC. The percentage of regulatory T (Treg) cells in group PD was significantly increased after CIAC compared with before CIAC, whereas groups PR and SD showed significant decrease after CIAC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The percentage of Th2 cells is useful for predicting the response to CIAC and the percentage of Treg cells is useful for assessment of efficacy in LC patients with aHCC receiving CIAC.
authors.forename: Hidenari
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mukouzu
authors.forename: Daigo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Takenori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kanekawa
authors.forename: Teppei
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanayama
authors.forename: Noritaka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wakui
authors.forename: Kouichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Momiyama
authors.forename: Mie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shinohara
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Igarashi
authors.forename: Yasukiyo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sumino
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D007564:Japan; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002945:Cisplatin; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil