Résumé
PURPOSE: This study evaluated the immunologic function of the postoperative lymphacytes and their subsets during 2 years after the curative resection of advanced gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The peripheral lymphocytes and their subset in 64 advanced gastric cancer patients were preoperatively and postoperatively measured by using fluorescent conjugated monoclonal antibodies with flow cytometry. The monoclonal antibodies to T lymphocyte (CD3), B lymphocyte (CD19), helper-inducer cell (CD4), suppressor- cytotoxic cell (CD8), natural killer cell (CD16), and activated T cell (HLA-DR) antigens were used individually corresponding to T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, helper-inducer T cells, suppressor-cytotoxic T cells, natural killer cells and activated T cells in post- operative periods (1, 3, 6, 12, 18, K 24 months). Their postoperative data were compared to the preoperative data in advanced gastric cancer. RESULTS: On sequential measurements, peripheral lymphocytes were significantly decreased in postoperative 1 month than preoperative 1 day but they were gradually increased in postoperative 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months with significance. The B lymphocytes were significantly decreased in postoperative 3 and 6 months. NK cells were significantly increased in postoperative 3 months. CONCLUSION: The two years postoperative changing patterns of peripheral lymphocytes and their subsets may not be improved in advanced gastric cancer patients which were undertaken curative surgery except lymphocyte.