ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of microwave ablation on T-lymphocyte subsets and cytokines in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Peripheral blood was collected from 45 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated by microwave ablation before treatment, one week and one month after treatment. T cells (CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ cells), CD4+ CD25+ Tregs, and CD16+ CD56+ NK cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Levels of cytokines (IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-12, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10) were determined by a Luminex 200 analyzer. RESULTS: Compared with before treatment, CD3+ cells, CD4+ cells and IL-12 increased significantly at one month after the microwave ablation treatment, while IL-4, IL-10 decreased significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Microwave ablation could relieve the suppression of immune function caused by tumors, promote the deviation of Th2/Th1, and improve immune dysfunction in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.