The Study for the Postoperative Changes of Peripheral Lymphocytes and their Subsets as Immune Function in Advanced Gastric Cancer

Joh, Yoon Sun; Joh, Yon Geul; Cho, Min Young; Suh, Sung Ock

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the immunologic function of the postoperative lymphacytes and their subsets during 2 years after the curative resection of advanced gastric cancer.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The peripheral lymphocytes and their subset in 64 advanced gastric cancer patients were preoperatively and postoperatively measured by using fluorescent conjugated monoclonal antibodies with flow cytometry. The monoclonal antibodies to T lymphocyte (CD3), B lymphocyte (CD19), helper-inducer cell (CD4), suppressor- cytotoxic cell (CD8), natural killer cell (CD16), and activated T cell (HLA-DR) antigens were used individually corresponding to T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, helper-inducer T cells, suppressor-cytotoxic T cells, natural killer cells and activated T cells in post- operative periods (1, 3, 6, 12, 18, K 24 months). Their postoperative data were compared to the preoperative data in advanced gastric cancer.
RESULTS
On sequential measurements, peripheral lymphocytes were significantly decreased in postoperative 1 month than preoperative 1 day but they were gradually increased in postoperative 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months with significance. The B lymphocytes were significantly decreased in postoperative 3 and 6 months. NK cells were significantly increased in postoperative 3 months.
CONCLUSION
The two years postoperative changing patterns of peripheral lymphocytes and their subsets may not be improved in advanced gastric cancer patients which were undertaken curative surgery except lymphocyte.