Effect of radiation therapy on immune function of patients with lung cancer

Objective To explore the influence of radiation therapy on CD3⁺,CD4⁺,CD8⁺,CD4⁺/CD8⁺ in patients with lung cancer. Methods The clinical data of 90 patients with lung cancer undergoing radiotherapy in Lishui Central Hospital were studied.The radiation dose and target volume were recorded.The CD3⁺,CD4⁺,CD8⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ in peripheral blood were determined by flow cytometry. Results After radiotherapy,the CD3⁺[(61.48±1.86)%]was no significant difference with that before radiotherapy[(61.12±1.83)%],P>0.05,the levels of CD4⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺[(26.85±1.28)%,0.71±0.06]were significantly lower than those before the treatment[(36.24±1.25)%,1.22±0.08](P<0.05),the CD8⁺ content[(37.92±1.66)%]was higher than that before the treatment[(29.79±1.12)%],P<0.05.After radiotherapy,CD3⁺ abnormality ratio (32.2%) was no significant difference with that before radiotherapy (34.4%),P>0.05,the percentage of abnormal CD4⁺,CD4⁺/CD8⁺(85.6%,67.8%) was lower than that before the treatment (53.3%,31.1%),P<0.05.The CD3⁺,CD4⁺,CD8⁺,CD4⁺/CD8⁺ radiation therapy dose ≥ 60 Gy patients[(63.43±1.85)%,(27.23±1.28)%,(37.53±1.17)%,0.72±0.07]was not statistically significant with radiation dose<60 Gy[(61.12±1.77)%,(26.77±1.31)%,(38.08±1.36)% and 0.69±0.05],P>0.05.There was no significant difference of CD3 between target volume>440 cm³[(61.88±2.23)%]and target volume ≤ 440 cm³[(59.99±2.17)%],P>0.05,the CD4⁺,CD4⁺/CD8⁺[(24.37±1.68)%,0.68±0.06]were significantly lower than those with target volume ≤ 440 cm³,the CD8 content[(41.46±2.59)%]was higher than that of target volume ≤ 440 cm³[(34.27±2.13)%],P<0.05. Conclusion The immune of lung cancer patients before radiotherapy is dysfunction.The immune function after radiation therapy decreases further.The immune function of patients with lung cancer is related to radiation target volume,the larger the target volume,the lower the immune function.