Changes of Lymphocyte Subgroups in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Before and During Chemotherapy

The aim of this study was to analyse changes in the lymphocyte subgroups of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients before and during four cycles of chemotherapy.

NSCLC patients (n = 32) who were undergoing their initial chemotherapy or had finished their final chemotherapy ≥ three months ago were enrolled. The patients were divided into demographic subgroups. Lymphocyte subgroups (n = 13) were examined via flow cytometry before and during chemotherapy (9 time points).

NSCLC patients exhibited overall decreases in lymphocyte subgroups during chemotherapy. Most of the subgroups increased slightly before the second cycle of chemotherapy but decreased afterwards compared with pre-chemotherapy levels. Significant decreases (p < 0.05) were observed in lymphocyte subgroups starting at the third cycle of chemotherapy. In the first efficacy assessment, CD4+ and CD8+CD28+ levels in the tumour control group were significantly higher compared with the tumour progression group (p < 0.05). The first and second efficacy assessments revealed that the DC1/DC2 levels in the tumour progression group on the last day of the first cycle and the ninth day of the second cycle were significantly higher compared with the tumour control group (p < 0.05), and the CD4+/CD8+ level in the non-surgery group was significantly higher compared with the surgery group (p < 0.05).

The immune functions of NSCLC patients began to decrease beginning in the second cycle of chemotherapy. During the third and fourth cycles of chemotherapy, immune function was decreased significantly compared with pre-chemotherapy levels. CD4+, CD8+CD28+, and DC1/DC2 cells were associated with tumour progression, representing new biomarkers for chemotherapeutic efficacy in NSCLC.