[Effects of the spleen on immune state in patients with gastric cancer]

For analysing the effects of the spleen on immune state of gastric cancer patients, T-lymphocyte subsets and serum immunosuppressive factors of splenic venous and peripheral blood were assayed. The results showed that the proportion of CD4+ cells in peripheral blood, especially in splenic venous blood of early cancer patients was higher than that in advanced cancer patients. The proportion of CD8+ cells in splenic venous blood of the advanced cancer patients was higher not only than that in peripheral blood of advanced cancer patients, but also than that in splenic venous blood of early cancer patients. The ratio of CD4+/CD8+ cells in peripheral blood, especially in splenic venous blood showed a decrease with the increase of cancer stage. The immunosuppressive activity of sera of peripheral blood, especially of splenic venous blood was increased significantly in keeping with the cancer stage. It seems that the spleen takes part in regulation of tumor immunity. In early cancer patients it shows some anticancer effects on forming and releasing supplementary T cells (CD4+). However, in advanced cancer patients it effects on the development of immunosuppression through forming and releasing suppressive T cells and serum immunosuppressive factors.