Effects of pemetrexed chemotherapy on serum tumor markers and immune function in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Objective To investigate the effects of pemetrexed chemotherapy on serum tumor markers and immune function in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Methods A total of 68 patient with non-small cell lung cancer admitted to Zaozhuang Tumor Hospital from March 2016 to October 2018 were selected and divided into two groups according to the random number table method, with 34 cases in each group. The control group was treated with docetaxel, while the observation group was treated with pemetrexed. Changes in serum tumor markers and immune function before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. Results The levels of cytokeratin fragment antigen 21-1 (cyfra21-1), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in the observation group were lower than those in the control group, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the observation group had lower levels of cluser of differentiation 8 positive T cell and higher levels of cluser of differentiation 4 positive T cell and cluser of differentiation 3 positive T cell after treatment, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusions Pemetrexed chemotherapy can improve the serum tumor markers of patients with non-small cell lung cancer, and reduce the impair on the immune function of patients. Key words: Non-small cell lung cancer; Pemetrexed; Serum tumor markers; Immune function