Effect of radiofrequency ablation combined transcatheter arterial chemoembolization on antitumor immune status of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective To investigate the effect of radiofrequency ablation combined transcatheter arterial chemoembolization on the anti-tumor immune status of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods A total of 186 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were divided into control group and observation group by random number method. The control group was treated with TACE and the observation group was treated with RFA based on control group. After treatment, the serum tumor activating factor (AFP, MMP and CA199), T lymphocyte subsets (CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺and CD4⁺/CD8⁺), immunoglobulin (Ig A, Ig M and Ig G), life quality and short-term efficacy of two groups were compared. Results Before treatment, AFP, MMP and CA199 levels of two groups were no significantly different (P>0.05); after treatment, the AFP, MMP and CA199 levels of two groups were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the decrease rate of observation group was higher (P<0.05). Before treatment, the CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺and CD4⁺/CD8⁺levels of two groups were no significantly different (P>0.05); after treatment the CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺, CD4⁺/CD8⁺levels of two groups were significantly improved (P>0.05); and the improvement of observation group was higher than control group (P<0.05). Before treatment, Ig A, Ig G and Ig M of two groups were no significantly different (P>0.05). After treatment, Ig G and Ig M of two groups were significantly increased (P<0.05), and the improvement of observation group was higher than control group (P<0.05). Compared with control group, the body function, symptom/adverse effect and social function score of observation group were higher (P<0.05). After treatment, the overall effect of the observation group was significantly better than control group (P<0.05). After treatment, Ig G and Ig M were significantly higher than those in Ig A (P<0.05) Control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Radiofrequency ablation combined transcatheter arterial chemoembolization can significantly reduce tumor activity of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, enhance the antitumor immune function and improve the life quality of patients.