Analysis of CD4~+CD25~+ regulatory T cells in peripheral blood of patients with lung cancer

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the proportion of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) in the patients with lung cancer and investigate the effect in the progression of cancer. METHODS:Flow cytometer was used to analyze the level of CD4+CD25+Treg from 78 cases of lung cancer and 30 healthy donors,and furthermore,the relationship between the clinical stage,pathologic type,differentiation,surgery and CD4+CD25+ Treg was observed. RESULTS:The proportion of CD4+CD25+Treg was significantly higher in lung cancer patients than that in the healthy donors (t=2.316,P=0.04). The proportion of CD4+CD25+Treg was significantly higher in stage Ⅲ or Ⅳ lung cancer patients than those in Stage Ⅰ andⅡ lung cancer patients (t=2.205,P=0.04;t=2.207,P=0.04). The proportion of CD4+CD25+Treg was significantly higher in squamous cell carcinoma,adenocarcinoma and small cell lung cancer patients than that in the healthy donors (P0.05). The proportion of CD4+CD25+Treg was significantly higher in high differentiation,middle differentiation and low differentiation lung cancer patients than that in the healthy donors (P0.05). The proportion of CD4+CD25+Treg was significantly lower in lung cancer patients after surgery 〔(14.38±3.82)%〕 than that before surgery 〔(20.16±5.24)%,t=1.823,P=0.05〕.CONCLUSIONS:The proportion of CD4+CD25+ Treg in the patients with lung cancer is significantly higher. It plays an importmant role in the progression of lung cancer. The level of CD4+CD25+ Treg is significantly down-regulated after surgery.