RESUMO
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a high mortality rate; therefore, the development of effective treatments is a priority. The stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway enhances tumor immunity by inducing the production of type 1 interferon (IFN) and proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines and promoting the infiltration of cytotoxic T cells. To assess the function of STING on pancreatic tumorigenesis, Ptf1aER-Cre/+ LSL-KrasG12D/+ p53loxP/loxP mice (KPC mice) and Ptf1aER-Cre/+ LSL-KrasG12D/+ p53loxP/loxP/STING-/- mice (KPCS mice) were generated. However, STING deletion did not affect pancreatic tumorigenesis in mice. Because STING is expressed not only in immune cells but also in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), we evaluated the STING function in PDAC CAFs. A mouse STING agonist 5,6-Dimethyl-9-oxo-9H-xanthene-4-acetic acid (DMXAA) was administered to KPC mice and CAFs from KPC mice and the resulting immune response was evaluated. DMXAA activated STING in PDAC CAFs in KPC mice, promoting cytotoxic T cell infiltration by secreting proinflammatory cytokines and enhancing tumor immunity. We next generated STING-deficient PDAC cells and subcutaneous tumors in which STING was expressed only in CAFs by performing bone marrow transplantation and assessed the antitumor effect of STING-activated CAFs. The administration of DMXAA to subcutaneous tumors expressing STING only in CAFs sustained the antitumor effect of DMXAA. About half of human PDACs lacked STING expression in the cancer stroma, suggesting that STING activation in PDAC CAFs exerts an antitumor effect, and STING agonists can be more effective in tumors with high than in those with low STING expression in the stroma.
Assuntos
Fibroblastos Associados a Câncer , Carcinoma Ductal Pancreático , Proteínas de Membrana , Neoplasias Pancreáticas , Animais , Proteínas de Membrana/metabolismo , Proteínas de Membrana/genética , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/imunologia , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/patologia , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/metabolismo , Camundongos , Fibroblastos Associados a Câncer/metabolismo , Carcinoma Ductal Pancreático/imunologia , Carcinoma Ductal Pancreático/patologia , Carcinoma Ductal Pancreático/metabolismo , Carcinoma Ductal Pancreático/genética , Carcinoma Ductal Pancreático/tratamento farmacológico , Humanos , Xantonas/farmacologia , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Linfócitos T Citotóxicos/imunologiaRESUMO
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Lenvatinib is approved as a first-line treatment for unresectable HCC. The therapeutic duration of lenvatinib is limited by resistance, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. To establish lenvatinib-resistant cells, Hep3B cells were initially treated with 3 µM lenvatinib. The concentration was gradually increased by 1 µM or 0.5 µM per week and it reached to 7.5 µM 2 months after the initial exposure to lenvatinib. The biological characteristics of these cells were analyzed by ERK activation in the MAPK signaling pathway and a human phospho-receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) antibody array. Factors possibly related to lenvatinib resistance were analyzed using inhibitors, and cell proliferation was analyzed. We established lenvatinib-resistant HCC cells (LR cells) by long-term exposure to lenvatinib. Lenvatinib reduced ERK activation in the parent cells, but not in the LR cells. RTK array analysis showed that the activities of EGFR and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R)/insulin receptor (INSR) were significantly increased in LR cells, whereas the activities of other RTKs were unchanged. Erlotinib, a widely used EGFR inhibitor, downregulated ERK activation in LR cells. The proliferation of LR cells will also be affected when lenvatinib is combined with erlotinib to treat LR cells. In contrast, inhibition of IGFR/INSR did not affect ERK activation or cell proliferation. Scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) ameliorated the enhanced EGFR activation in LR cells. Lenvatinib resistance was induced by enhanced EGFR activation, possibly via ROS accumulation, in lenvatinib- resistant cells. These findings may enable the development of lenvatinib combination therapies for HCC.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos , Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Quinolinas , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Antineoplásicos/uso terapêutico , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patologia , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Resistencia a Medicamentos Antineoplásicos , Receptores ErbB/farmacologia , Cloridrato de Erlotinib/farmacologia , Humanos , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patologia , Compostos de Fenilureia/farmacologia , Compostos de Fenilureia/uso terapêutico , Inibidores de Proteínas Quinases/farmacologia , Inibidores de Proteínas Quinases/uso terapêutico , Quinolinas/farmacologia , Quinolinas/uso terapêutico , Espécies Reativas de Oxigênio/farmacologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND/AIM: Serglycin plays a crucial role in the aggressiveness of several types of malignancies, including breast cancer. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prognostic impact of serglycin expression in breast cancer patients, which has not been previously reported. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemical analyses were performed on 348 resected specimens of invasive carcinomas, using antibodies against serglycin. RESULTS: Low serglycin expression was observed in 23% of specimens (80/348) and significantly correlated with high histological grade (p=0.001) and negative ER (p=0.013). The log-rank test showed that low serglycin expression correlated with shorter distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) (p=0.016) and disease-specific survival (DSS) (p=0.037) in node-positive breast cancer patients. Cox's multivariate analysis revealed that low serglycin expression was an independent factor for shorter DMFS (p=0.017) and DSS (p=0.020) in node-positive breast cancer patients. CONCLUSION: Low serglycin expression is an independent predictor of unfavorable prognosis in node-positive breast cancer patients.
Assuntos
Biomarcadores Tumorais/genética , Neoplasias da Mama/genética , Metástase Linfática/genética , Proteoglicanas/genética , Proteínas de Transporte Vesicular/genética , Adulto , Idoso , Neoplasias da Mama/patologia , Neoplasias da Mama/cirurgia , Intervalo Livre de Doença , Feminino , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica/genética , Humanos , Metástase Linfática/patologia , Mastectomia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , PrognósticoRESUMO
A 74-year-old woman with a cyst in her pancreatic tail was referred to our hospital. Computed tomography confirmed a large cystic lesion with irregular wall thickening, abdominal lymph node swelling, and ascites. We diagnosed her with an unresectable mucinous cystic neoplasm, since ascites cytology revealed adenocarcinoma. The patient received chemotherapy up to the fifth line for 55.2 months. Gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel and modified FOLFIRINOX achieved a partial response with a progression-free survival time of 12.1 and 20.4 months, respectively. The overall survival time from the beginning of first-line chemotherapy was 69.4 months.
Assuntos
Adenocarcinoma , Neoplasias Pancreáticas , Adenocarcinoma/tratamento farmacológico , Idoso , Albuminas/uso terapêutico , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapêutico , Feminino , Humanos , Metástase Neoplásica , Paclitaxel/uso terapêutico , Pâncreas , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/diagnóstico por imagem , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/tratamento farmacológico , Intervalo Livre de ProgressãoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Podoplanin expression in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) has been proposed as an indicator for poor prognosis in patients with invasive breast carcinomas, but little is known about its clinical significance in node-negative breast cancer patients with hormone receptor (HR) + /HER2 - subtype, who are expected to have a favorable prognosis. METHODS: Immunohistochemical analyses were performed on 169 resected specimens of node-negative invasive carcinoma of no special type with HR + /HER2 - subtype using antibodies for podoplanin. When more than 10% of CAFs showed immunoreactivity with podoplanin as strong as that of internal positive controls, the specimens were judged as podoplanin-positive. RESULTS: Podoplanin-positive status in CAFs was observed in 16.0% (27 of 169 cases) and it associated with high Ki67 labeling index (LI) (> 30%) (p = 0.03), higher stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (p < 0.001) and progesterone receptor-negative status (p = 0.045). Log-rank test showed that podoplanin-positive status in CAFs correlated with shorter disease-free survival (DFS) (p = 0.007) and disease-specific survival (DSS) (p < 0.001). Univariate analysis showed a significant correlation between shorter DFS and podoplanin-positive status in CAFs (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.380; p = 0.012), the presence of lymphatic invasion (HR = 5.621; p < 0.001), high Ki67 LI (HR = 5.217; p < 0.001), and histological grade III (HR = 3.748; p = 0.008). According to Cox multivariate analysis, podoplanin-positive status in CAFs had the most significant effect on shorter DSS (HR = 37.759; p = 0.003) followed by high Ki67LI (HR = 27.664; p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Podoplanin expression in CAFs could be an independent predictor for poor prognosis in node-negative breast cancer patients with HR + /HER2 - subtype.
Assuntos
Neoplasias da Mama/metabolismo , Fibroblastos Associados a Câncer/patologia , Linfócitos do Interstício Tumoral/patologia , Glicoproteínas de Membrana/metabolismo , Adulto , Idoso , Biomarcadores Tumorais/metabolismo , Neoplasias da Mama/genética , Neoplasias da Mama/mortalidade , Neoplasias da Mama/patologia , Intervalo Livre de Doença , Feminino , Humanos , Estimativa de Kaplan-Meier , Metástase Linfática , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Receptor ErbB-2 , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
To identify the cause of the phenomenon that rice plants close to the water inlet contain relatively higher radiocesium within a paddy field plot, we conducted a field experiment by establishing experimental channel using polypropylene corrugated sheets, and sampling surface water, paddy soil and rice plants according to the distance from the water inlet in 2014 and 2015. It was found that the 137Cs activity concentrations in both dissolved and particulate forms in paddy surface water presented a declining trend from the water inlet towards the outlet. The 137Cs activity concentration in paddy soil in the harvesting season and those of brown rice and rice straws were highest at 1-2 m from the water inlet. Balance calculation suggests that destination of the lost 137Cs from the surface water was likely to be adsorption of the dissolved form and sedimentation of particulate form onto the soil. The concentration of exchangeable potassium ion in paddy soil was below the recommended standard of 250 mg kg-1 (as K2O in dry soil) near the water inlet at the harvesting period both yearsï¼These findings suggested that the possible crucial factors to induce rice plant uptake of radiocesium near the water inlet were either (1) direct absorption of dissolved 137Cs in surface water by rice plants, (2) absorption of 137Cs, which was originally retained in particulate matter and released by ion exchange and/or by organic matter decomposition in combination with (3) loss of soil exchangeable potassium caused due partly to transportation of soil particles with exchangeable potassium by the rapid water flow near the water inlet and/or leaching by ion exchange onto the soil of other cations such as calcium ion flowing into the paddy field. These findings will contribute to providing possible measures for producing safe rice in highly contaminated areas in which agricultural production will resume in the near future. We propose providing a non-planting zone for the area closer than about 5 m from the water intake to avoid the occurrence of high 137Cs concentrations in rice crops.
Assuntos
Radioisótopos de Césio/análise , Oryza , Monitoramento de Radiação , Poluentes Radioativos da Água/análise , Baías , Ingestão de Líquidos , Solo , ÁguaRESUMO
According to cancer genome sequences, more than 90% of cases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) harbor active KRAS mutations. Digital PCR (dPCR) enables accurate detection and quantification of rare mutations. We assessed the dynamics of circulating tumor DNA (ct-DNA) in patients with advanced PDAC undergoing chemotherapy using dPCR. KRAS G12/13 mutation was assayed by dPCR in 47 paired tissue- and ct-DNA samples. The 21 patients were subjected to quantitative ct-DNA monitoring at 4 to 8-week intervals during chemotherapy. KRAS mutation was detected in 45 of those 47 patients using tissue DNA. In the KRAS mutation-negative cases, next-generation sequencing revealed KRAS Q61K and NRAS Q61R mutations. KRAS mutation was detected in 23/45 cases using ct-DNA (liver or lung metastasis, 18/19; mutation allele frequency [MAF], 0.1%-31.7%; peritoneal metastasis, 3/9 [0.1%], locally advanced, 2/17 [0.1%-0.2%]). In the ct-DNA monitoring, the MAF value changed in concordance with the disease state. In the 6 locally advanced cases, KRAS mutation appeared concurrently with liver metastasis. Among the 6 cases with liver metastasis, KRAS mutation disappeared during the duration of stable disease or a partial response, and reappeared at the time of progressive disease. The median progression-free survival was longer in cases in which KRAS mutation disappeared after an initial course of chemotherapy than in those in which it was continuously detected (248.5 vs 50 days, P < .001). Therefore, ct-DNA monitoring enables continuous assessment of disease state and could have prognostic utility during chemotherapy.
Assuntos
DNA Tumoral Circulante/genética , DNA/sangue , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/sangue , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/genética , Adulto , Idoso , Biomarcadores Tumorais/sangue , Carcinoma Ductal Pancreático/sangue , Carcinoma Ductal Pancreático/genética , Carcinoma Ductal Pancreático/patologia , Estudos de Avaliação como Assunto , Feminino , Frequência do Gene/genética , Sequenciamento de Nucleotídeos em Larga Escala/métodos , Humanos , Neoplasias Hepáticas/sangue , Neoplasias Hepáticas/genética , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patologia , Neoplasias Pulmonares/sangue , Neoplasias Pulmonares/genética , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Mutação/genética , Pâncreas/patologia , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/patologia , Prognóstico , Intervalo Livre de Progressão , Neoplasias PancreáticasRESUMO
A novel double-stranded spiroborate helicate bearing terminal pyrene residues exhibited reversible fluorescence color changes (green and blue colors) due to the unique unidirectional springlike motions of the helicate triggered by catch and release of alkali metal ions.
RESUMO
Many studies have performed imaging under partially coherent illumination. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no imaging methods for complicated objects such as cell colonies, which are large and diffract light multiple times. In this paper, we propose an image calculation method for the partially coherent illumination of a large-scale three-dimensional multi-diffractive object. The image is calculated via the summation of coherent images of each illumination angle using the beam propagation method. We apply this method to various microscopic observations, including phase contrast and differential interference contrast. Our method shows excellent agreement with experimental images of a bead and a photonic crystal fiber. As with a cell colony, our method reproduced the characteristics of the image through experimentation. Finally, we discuss the accuracy and the restriction conditions of our method.
RESUMO
A one-handed double-stranded spiroborate helicate exhibits a unique reversible extension-contraction motion coupled with a twisting motion in one direction triggered by binding and release of a Na+ ion while retaining its handedness. Here we report that an extended meso-helicate was also produced together with the racemo-helicate, and the meso-helicate was readily converted to the racemo-helicate assisted by a Na+ ion as a template in the presence of water. The thermodynamic analyses of the ion-triggered springlike motion of the racemo-helicate using a series of monovalent cations with different sizes revealed that the association constants of the extended racemo-helicate decreased in the following order: Li+ > Na+ > NH4+ > Ag+ ≥ K+ > Cs+ > Rb+, which roughly agrees with the reverse order of their ionic radii except for the NH4+ ion due to the more elongated contracted helicates when complexed with larger cations as supported by the crystal and DFT calculated structures. The one-handed contracted helicates showed characteristic CD spectra depending on the cation species due to the differences in their contracted helical structures, and its absolute handedness of the spiroborate helicate was determined by X-ray crystallography. The kinetic studies of the springlike motions of the racemo-helicate showed that the exchange rate between the extended and contracted helicates tend to increase in the following order: Li+ < Na+ < K+ ≤ NH4+ < Rb+ < Cs+ < Ag+ as anticipated from the association constants, being in good agreement with the order of the cation sizes except for Ag+.
RESUMO
We have presented a simple approach for quantitative phase imaging by optimizing asymmetric illumination of a conventional microscope. With this illumination, the light intensity modulation accompanying refraction at the surface profile of phase objects occurs, and "phase-gradient information" can be derived by detecting it. Two images with phase-gradient information on different axes are converted into the two-dimensional phase distribution of the specimen by introducing the phase-gradient transfer function, which is the intensity change due to refraction by the phase-gradient of a specimen. We experimentally confirm accurate and repeatable performance of our method and demonstrate phase imaging of live cells.
RESUMO
We report the unprecedented allosteric regulation of the extension and contraction motions of double-stranded spiroborate helicates composed of 4,4'-linked 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) and its N,N'-dioxide units in the middle of ortho-linked tetraphenol strands. NMR and circular dichroism measurements and an X-ray crystallographic analysis along with theoretical calculations revealed that enantiomeric helicates contract and extend upon the binding and release of protons and/or metal ions at the covalently linked two binding bpy or N,N'-dioxide moieties without racemization, respectively, regulated by a cooperative anti-syn conformational change of the two bpy or N,N'-dioxide moieties. These anti-syn conformational changes that occurred at the linkages are amplified into a large-scale molecular motion of the helicates leading to reversible spring-like motions coupled with twisting in one direction in a highly homotropic allosteric fashion.
RESUMO
We herein report the case of a 93-year-old woman with breast cancer on the left side. Preoperative computed tomography of the chest showed irregularities and narrowing of the mid-trachea. Bronchoscopy was performed, and the results of a biopsy supported a diagnosis of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. The patient responded to treatment with prednisone alone, with a reduction in the size of the lesion. MALT lymphoma of the trachea is extremely rare, and there are only a few case reports of double cancer, i.e., MALT lymphoma of the trachea and breast cancer.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos Hormonais/administração & dosagem , Neoplasias da Mama/patologia , Broncoscopia , Linfoma de Zona Marginal Tipo Células B/patologia , Prednisona/administração & dosagem , Tomografia Computadorizada por Raios X , Traqueia/patologia , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Biópsia , Neoplasias da Mama/diagnóstico por imagem , Neoplasias da Mama/tratamento farmacológico , Feminino , Humanos , Imuno-Histoquímica , Linfoma de Zona Marginal Tipo Células B/complicações , Linfoma de Zona Marginal Tipo Células B/diagnóstico por imagem , Traqueia/diagnóstico por imagemRESUMO
A new microscopy method for observing phase objects without halos or directional shadows is proposed. The method is based on transformation of the surface profile of phase objects into a light intensity pattern. The key optical element is an annular aperture at the front focal plane of a condenser. The light flux passing through the annular aperture is changed by the specimen's surface profile and then passes through an objective and contributes to image formation. Theory and experimental results are presented. Phase images of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells with clear outlines were obtained with this method.
Assuntos
Artefatos , Microscopia de Contraste de Fase/métodos , Animais , Células-Tronco Pluripotentes Induzidas/citologia , Látex , Camundongos , Microscopia de Contraste de Fase/instrumentaçãoRESUMO
Recently, the antipruritic activity of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor paroxetine has been reported. We report 3 patients with severe cholestatic pruritus due to gastrointestinal malignancy. All of them were successfully treated with 10 mg oral paroxetine. The onset of the antipruritic action of paroxetine was observed at from several hours-two days. Paroxetine seems to be an effective, well-tolerated treatment for cholestatic pruritus due to gastrointestinal malignancy.
Assuntos
Colestase/complicações , Neoplasias do Sistema Digestório/complicações , Paroxetina/uso terapêutico , Prurido/tratamento farmacológico , Prurido/etiologia , Inibidores Seletivos de Recaptação de Serotonina/uso terapêutico , Idoso , Neoplasias dos Ductos Biliares/complicações , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Neoplasias Pancreáticas , Neoplasias Retais/complicaçõesRESUMO
A 57-year-old man with erythrodermia, who was given 5-10 mg/day of prednisolone for 2.5 years, was admitted to our hospital for squamous cell lung carcinoma of the right upper lobe. A bronchoscopy revealed a tumor nearly obstructing the right upper lobe bronchus. A bronchoplastic lobectomy was performed with wide wedge resection of the main bronchus and truncus intermedius. A postoperative bronchoscopy revealed good healing of the anastomosis and a 3-dimensional construction of the bronchus with chest computed tomography demonstrated no stenotic change and no kinking change in the anastomosis. One year and 6 months after surgery, no local recurrence was seen in the region of bronchoplasty. Bronchoplastic lobectomy with wide wedge resection is a useful procedure in cases with risk factors of anastomotic dehiscence, such as after induction therapy or during long-term administration of adrenal cortical steroids.
Assuntos
Dermatite Esfoliativa/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Pulmonares/cirurgia , Pneumonectomia/métodos , Anastomose Cirúrgica , Brônquios/patologia , Broncoscopia , Comorbidade , Constrição Patológica , Dermatite Esfoliativa/epidemiologia , Glucocorticoides/efeitos adversos , Humanos , Neoplasias Pulmonares/epidemiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prednisolona/efeitos adversos , Deiscência da Ferida Operatória/induzido quimicamente , Deiscência da Ferida Operatória/prevenção & controleRESUMO
Postoperative fistulas are among the most difficult and distressing of surgical problems. We describe a case of a discharging fistula that developed after low anterior resection and was successfully treated with a new biologic adhesive agent, gelatin-resorcin-formal glue. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a postoperative fistula after colorectal surgery successfully treated with gelatin-resorcin-formal glue. In conclusion, gelatin-resorcin-formal glue is useful for uncontrollable postoperative fistula.
Assuntos
Formaldeído/uso terapêutico , Gelatina/uso terapêutico , Complicações Pós-Operatórias/terapia , Fístula Retal/terapia , Resorcinóis/uso terapêutico , Adesivos Teciduais/uso terapêutico , Idoso , Drenagem , Combinação de Medicamentos , Humanos , Masculino , Fístula Retal/etiologia , Neoplasias Retais/cirurgia , Neoplasias do Colo Sigmoide/cirurgiaRESUMO
Laparoscopic total adrenalectomy has become a standard technique for small adrenal tumors; however, bilateral adrenalectomy results in postoperative adrenal insufficiency, necessitating lifelong steroid replacement. To preserve adrenocortical function in a 41-year-old woman with bilateral adrenocortical adenoma (BAA) causing Cushing's syndrome, we performed laparoscopic bilateral partial adrenalectomy. We based our preoperative diagnosis of bilateral adrenocortical tumors causing Cushing's syndrome on the results of endocrinological investigations and imaging findings. Thus, we performed lateral transperitoneal laparoscopic bilateral partial adrenalectomy, preserving the adrenal glands, which were normal. Pathological examination of both tumors confirmed the diagnosis of adrenocortical adenoma. The patient had no postoperative complications, and her adrenocortical function was normal without steroid replacement at her 10-month follow-up. This report shows that Cushing's syndrome resulting from bilateral adenomas can be effectively treated by laparoscopic bilateral partial adrenalectomy as a minimally invasive, adrenocortical-preserving operation.
Assuntos
Adrenalectomia/métodos , Adenoma Adrenocortical/cirurgia , Síndrome de Cushing/etiologia , Laparoscopia , Adenoma Adrenocortical/complicações , Adulto , Feminino , HumanosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: We report the prognostic significance of peripheral and tumor-infiltrating Th1, Th2, Tc1 and Tc2 cells in lung cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the rates of interferon (IFN)-gamma+/CD4+ cells (Th1), interleukin (IL)-4+ /CD4+ cells (Th2), IFN-gamma+/CD8+ cells (Tc1), IL-4+ /CD8+ cells (Tc2), and the ratio of Th1 to Th2 and that of Tc1 to Tc2 among peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), in 51 consecutive patients with non-small cell lung cancer, by detecting the intracellular cytokine production using three-color flow cytometry. RESULTS: Patients with a low Th1/Th2 ratio in peripheral blood lymphocytes had a significantly better prognosis than those with a high Th1/Th2 ratio (5-year survival rate: low: 74.7% vs. high: 50.3%; p=0.038). Patients with a low Th1/Th2 ratio in peripheral blood had a significantly better prognosis than those with a high Th1/Th2 ratio in pathological Stage II or III (5-year survival rate: low: 66.6% vs. high: 18.2%; p=0.018). CONCLUSION: A high Th1/Th2 ratio in peripheral blood is a negative prognostic factor, especially in pathological Stage II or III non-small cell lung cancer patients.