TITLE:
Is the CD4/CD8 Ratio an Effective Indicator for Clinical Estimation of Adoptive Immunotherapy for Cancer Treatment?
AUTHORS:
Goki Shindo, Takayoshi Endo, Masamitsu Onda, Shigenori Goto, Yoju Miyamoto, Toru Kaneko
KEYWORDS:
Immunotherapy; Adoptive Activated T Lymphocyte therapy; Flow Cytometry; Performance Status; Advanced Cancer
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Cancer Therapy,
Vol.4 No.8,
October
29,
2013
ABSTRACT: Background: The importance of
immunotherapy in cancer treatment has been increased owing to its non-toxicity
and application to personalized medicine. However, precise estimation indices
of immunotherapy have yet to be established. To determine effective evaluation
indices of immunotherapy for cancer treatment, we analyzed the CD4/CD8 ratio under
various conditions in clinical patients with advanced cancer. Patients and Methods: Thirty-four
patients who underwent one course of adoptive activated immunotherapy with or
without additional conventional chemotherapy were enrolled. Before and after
one course of immunotherapy, changes in the CD4/CD8 ratio were estimated by
flow cytometry. Results: All patients
showed a tendency toward a decrease in the CD4/CD8 ratio during a 3-month
period after one course of adoptive activated T lymphocyte immunotherapy.
Patients who had undergone prior surgery showed a remarkable increase in CD8 T
cell number. Thus, adoptive activated T lymphocyte immunotherapy improves immunological
ability against cancer invasion. The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group’s
performance status during one course of immunotherapy was significantly
improved in the antecedent surgery group, with no evidence of improved PS in
the non-antecedent surgery group. Patients with an increased CD4/CD8 ratio (n =
6) may have a worse outcome during adoptive activated T lymphocyte
immunotherapy even with an additional course of immunotherapy. Improved actuarial
survival rate of patients in the antecedent surgery group showed significant
long-term benefit compared to those in the non-antecedent surgery group (p = 0.0298),
as previously reported. Conclusion: The CD4/CD8 ratio is a significant
indicator of outcome of adoptive activated T lymphocyte immunotherapy.