Th1/Th2 and Treg/Th17 cell balance in peripheral blood of patients with ovarian cancer / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the changes in the percentages and balance of CD4T cell subsets including T helper cells (Thl, Th2, and Thl7) and T regulatory cells (Treg) in patients with ovarian cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Peripheral blood samples were collected from 30 patients with ovarian cancer and 20 healthy subjects for analysis of the percentages of Thl, Th2, Thl7 and Treg using flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control subjects, the patients with ovarian cancer showed significantly increased percentages of Th2, Thl7 and Treg (P<0.05) but significantly decreased percentage of Th1 in the peripheral blood of patients with ovarian cancer (P<0.05). The changes in CD4T cell subsets were significantly correlated with the clinical stage of the tumor (P<0.05) but not with the histological type or cell differentiation (P>0.05). The Th1/Th2 ratio was significantly decreased in ovarian cancer patients (P<0.05) with obvious Th2 polarization compared with control group. The Treg/Th17 ratio was significantly increased in ovarian cancer patients (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Patients with in ovarian cancer have abnormal expressions of CD4T cell subsets in the peripheral blood with Th1/Th2 and Treg/Th17 imbalance, and these findings provide evidence for clinical immunotherapy of ovarian cancer.</p>