ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the clinical significance of the changes of T lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of patients with gastric cancer. Methods:The lymphocyte subsets in 67 patients with gastric cancer were analyzed with flow cytometry. CEA and CA199 from all patients were also detected. Results were statistically analyzed, and the patients were followed up. Results:The aver-age values of Tc (CD8+CD28+) in patients with stagesⅢandⅣgastric cancer were 12.3±5.1 and 9.9±4.6, respectively, with significant difference (P=0.043). The average values of Tc (CD8+CD28+) in patients with elevated CEA and with normal CEA were 9.3±3.6 and 12.1± 5.6, respectively (P=0.025). Similarly, the average values of Tc (CD8+CD28+) in patients with elevated CA199 and with normal CEA were 9.3±4.2 and 12.1±5.3, respectively (P=0.029). The overall survival of patients with decreased Tc (CD8+CD28+) was lower than that of patients with normal Tc (CD8+CD28+) (8.1 vs. 15.1 months, P=0.008). Conclusion:The cellular immune function of patients with gastric cancer gradually decreased with the progression of TNM. Higher CA199 and CEA values indicated lower average values of Tc (CD8+CD28+). The overall survival of patients with decreased Tc (CD8+CD28+) was lower.