T-cell subsets in patients with gastric cancer

Peripheral blood T-cell subsets of 70 patients with untreated gastric cancer and 55 age- and sex-matched normal controls were studied by using monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry. The number of T cells (Leu 4+ cells) was significantly decreased in stage IV patients. Statistically significant decreases in the number of Leu 3a+ cells and in the Leu 3a+/Leu 2a+ ratio were also found in stage IV patients. Stage I-III patients showed no marked imbalance in T-cell subsets. Quantitative changes in T-cell subsets in the advanced stage may be one of the factors responsible for the immunosuppression in advanced gastric cancer.