Clinical Application of Thymosin α_1 in Combination with Chemotherapy in Post-operative Patients with Colorectal Cancer

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of thymosin α1 in combination with chemotherapy on immune function and bone marrow suppression in post-operative patients with colorectal cancer. METHODS: 76 patients with colorectal cancer were randomly divided into 2 groups. 38 patients in control group received FOLFOX4 regimen, and 38 patients in treatment group received thymosin α1 combined with FOLFOX4 regimen. One treatment course lasted for 14 d. After two treatment courses, the change of peripheral blood T cell subsets (CD3, CD4 and CD4/CD8) and hematological toxicity of patients in both groups were measured before and after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, the blood levels of CD4,CD4/CD8 and NK cell activity in treatment group were significantly higher than control group (P0.05).The hypoleucocytosis of treatment group was significantly lower than control group (P0.05). CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy combined with thymosin α1 can significantly improve immune function and bone marrow suppression in post-operative patients with colorectal cancer.