Zeta chain level of T and NK cells in patients with renal-cell carcinoma and bladder cancer and its clinical significance / 中华肿瘤杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the relationship between zeta chain level of peripheral blood T/NK cells and tumor progression in renal-cell carcinoma and bladder cancer and its clinical significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The peripheral blood mononuclcear cells in 58 patients with renal cell carcinoma, 22 patients with bladder cancer and 14 healthy blood donors were examined by flow cytometry with fluorescent anti-CD3 (for T cells), or anti-CD56 (for NK cells) and anti-zeta chain monoclonal antibodies.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The zeta chain expression of T cell and NK cell in stage I, II and III renal-cell carcinoma decreased to 59.5%, 37.6%, 21.3% and 62.2%, 27.1%, 18.8% of the healthy control level, respectively. That in stage I, II and III bladder cancer decreased to 37.6%, 29.5%, 18.9% and 35.4%, 20.8%, 5.8% of the control level, respectively. T and NK cell zeta chain levels in 17.5% (14/80) of the patients were within the normal range. T/NK ratios of peripheral blood in stage III patients were remarkably lower than those of the healthy donor.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Reduced T and NK zeta chain levels and T/NK ratio in the renal-cell carcinoma and bladder cancer are generally consistent with tumor progression. The patients with normal T and NK zeta chain level may be indicated for immunotherapy.</p>