Effects of thymosin α1 on cellular and humoral immunity of colorectal cancer patients receiving postoperative chemotherapy

Objective To observe the effects of thymosin α1 on cellular and humoral immunity of colorectal cancer patients receiving postoperative chemotherapy, and evaluate the clinical value of thymosin α1. Methods The treatment group consisted of 29 colorectal carcinoma patients receiving postoperative chemotherapy plus thymosin α1 treatment, while 20 colorectal carcinoma patients using chemotherapy alone were used as control. Before chemotherapy, and at the 8th and the 22nd day after chemotherapy, immune function of all patients were monitored. Results Immune function in the control group significantly decreased after chemotherapy, while in the treatment group significantly increased at the 22nd day after chemotherapy [CD3:(62.09±9.90)% vs (48.80±9.23)%,P=0.001;CD4:(45.40±5.49)% vs (35.16±7.57)%,P=0.015;CD4/CD8:1.53±0.30 vs 1.23±0.20,P=0.022;NK:(8.64±2.93)% vs (4.05±2.55)%,P=0.009;IgG:(9.29±3.01)g/L vs (7.26±1.61)g/L,P=0.047]. Conclusions The combined use of chemotherapy and thymosin α1 in colorectal carcinoma patients can improve the immune function and the tolerance to chemotherapy.