Immunostimulation During and After R-CHOP Therapy for B-Cell Lymphoma

Abstract

Kie Nagai, Tetsuhiro Kasamatsu, Chiharu Ohmiya, Tomomi Nagashima, Hiromi Koiso, Akihiko Yokohama, Hiroshi Handa, Norifumi Tsukamoto, Nanami Gotoh, Lobna Alkebsi, Takayuki Saitoh, Kunihiko Hayashi and Hirokazu Murakami

Backgrounds: Many studies show an immune imbalance in the tumor environment; some reports show that the T helper 1 (Th1)/ T helper 2 (Th2) ratio, the number of regulatory T-cells (Treg cells) or CD8+T-cells, and the CD8+Tcell/Treg cell ratio are associated with tumor suppression and expansion. Additionally, chemotherapy was reported to affect the immunity of patients with malignancy.

Patients and Methods: Using flow cytometry we measured peripheral blood lymphocytes including non T-cells, as well as T-cell subsets such as CD3+T-cells, CD4+T-cells, CD8+T-cells, Treg cells, Th1 cells and Th2 cells before treatment, at the fourth cycle, and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment in 21 patients with B-cell lymphoma receiving R-CHOP therapy. We also analyzed the changes in three immune indexes that reflect anti-tumor immunity (the CD4/CD8 ratio, the CD8/Treg ratio and the Th1/Th2 ratio).

Results: Compared to pre-treatment there were significant decreases in the CD4/CD8 ratio between 1 month and 12 months after treatment (p<0.001, for all time points). The CD8/Treg ratio gradually increased with treatment with significant increases observed at 6 months (p=0.009) and 12 months after treatment (p=0.002). The Th1/ Th2 ratio showed a significant increase only before 4 cycles of therapy (p=007)

Conclusion: Based on the changes in these three immune indexes, we propose that anti-tumor immunity improved after R-CHOP therapy, which enhanced the efficacy of R-CHOP therapy for lymphoma as well as its direct cytotoxic activity

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