Expression of CD4~+CD25~+ regulatory T cells in patients with advanced lung cancer and its suppressor function

Objective To explore the changes of CD4+CD25+regulatory T cells in patients with advanced lung cancer and its suppressor function.MethodsThe frequency of CD4+CD25+regulatory T cells in peripheral blood of 45 patients with lung cancer and 45 healthy controls was determined by flow cytometry.Results①CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells numbers were significantly more in 45 patients with lung cancer [(14.2±7.8)% of CD4+ T cells] than in 45 healthy donors(6.6±2.8)%(P0.001).②The level of CD4+CD25+ T cells was less in lung cancer patients treated with chemotheraphy[(6.4±3.8)]% than in those patients without chemotheraphy(14.2±7.8)%(P0.001).③ The level of CD4+CD25+ T cells was correlated with clinical stage and pathological differentiation(P0.01),but not with pathological classification(P0.05).ConclusionThe increase of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells may be related to immunosuppression and tumor progression in lung cancer patients.The change of CD4+CD25+T cells will provide a clinical evidence for judging the curative effect.