The detection and significance of T cells in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients

Aim of Study: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is by far the most common malignant tumor of the nasopharynx and is suggested to be related to immune system dysfunction. T cells play a central role in the cell-mediated immunity. However, how the T cells vary during the NPC treatment is still unclear. Materials and Methods: We divided the NPC patients into previously untreated, partial remission, complete remission, and relapse groups. Healthy controls were those without any autoimmune diseases, cancer, or recent infection. We used flow cytometry to detect the changes in T cell subsets. Results: We found the quantity (%) of CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(low/-) Treg regulatory T cells and CD8(+)CD28(-) T cells were obviously increased in NPC previously untreated, partial remission, and relapse groups. There was no difference in these two subsets between complete remission groups and healthy controls. In addition, the quantity (%) of CD3(+)CD4(+) and CD8(+)CD28(+) effector T cells were reduced in NPC previously untreated, partial remission, and relapse groups. There was no difference in these two subsets between complete remission groups and healthy controls. Conclusions: Our research determines the changes of T cell subsets in different stages of NPC.