title: Changes of CD4+T-cell subsets after radiofrequency ablation in lung cancer and its significance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the changes of CD4+ T-cell subsets following radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in lung cancer and the impact of RFA on the antitumor immunity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Flow cytometry was employed to detect CD4+ T-cell subsets in the peripheral blood from 45 healthy controls and 45 lung cancer patients before and after RFA. The correlation between CD4+ T-cell subsets and the clinical characteristics was discussed by comparing the results between different groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the healthy controls, the lung cancer patients showed a decline in Th1 cells, but higher Th2, Th17, and Treg cells (P < 0.05). Th1 cell level and Th1/Th2 cell ratio were significantly lower for stage III/IV than Stage I/II and also lower for patients with Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score <60 than ≥ 60 (P < 0.05). The levels of Th2, Th17, and Treg cells were much higher for patients with Stage III/IV and KPS score <60 (P < 0.05). After 2 weeks of RFA, the level of Th1 cells and Th1/Th2 cell ratio increased, while the levels of Th2, Th17, and Treg cells declined (P < 0.05). For lesions with ablation volume ≥ 70%, the level of Th1 cells and Th1/Th2 cell ratio increased, whereas the levels of Th2, Th17, and Treg cells declined dramatically (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The level of Th1 cells declined in lung cancer patients, especially for patients with Stage III/IV and KPS score <60. After RFA, the level of Th1 cells and Th1/Th2 increased, whereas the levels of Th2, Th17, and Treg cells declined, indicating an improvement of antitumor immunity. The changes were more prominent for lesions with ablation volume ≥ 70%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Minimally Invasive Intervention, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shaobin
authors.affiliation: Department of Minimally Invasive Intervention, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Xiong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Minimally Invasive Intervention, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiatian
authors.affiliation: Department of Minimally Invasive Intervention, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zaizhong
authors.affiliation: Department of Minimally Invasive Intervention, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Dai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Luping
authors.affiliation: Department of Minimally Invasive Intervention, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Junhui
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells; D058504:Th17 Cells; D018418:Th2 Cells