Relevance of immunological parameters in progression of colorectal-carcinoma

The long-term influence on the immunological stage from surgery and/or adjuvant or palliative therapy of 23 patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma was investigated by performing regular phenotyping and functional analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). The following groups were chosen: A (n=6); patients after resection of primary tumor and liver-metastases without chemotherapy. B (n=3); patients with catheter implantation after resection of primary tumor and liver metastases receiving an adjuvant arterial chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and folinic acid (5-formyltetrahydrofolic acid, FA). C (n=7); patients with non-resectable liver-metastases, receiving arterial or systemic chemotherapy after catheter implantation. D (n=7); patients with extrahepatic filiae receiving systemic palliative chemotherapy. Lymphocytes of 10 healthy volunteers served as controls. Furthermore, we were able to show effects of 5-FU and FA on the immune system.