Abstract
The aim of this study was to explore the T helper 1 (Th1)/Th2 cytokine shift and its clinical significance in the peripheral blood and tumor tissues of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. In total, 124 NSCLC patients who were admitted to Xinxiang Central Hospital were selected, along with 124 healthy individuals undergoing physical examination at the same hospital during this period (as controls). ELISA was conducted to detect the Th1 and Th2 cytokine levels in the peripheral blood of patients in the two groups prior to and following radical surgery treatment. In addition, the Th1 and Th2 cytokine levels in the peripheral blood of the observation group were measured following surgery to analyze the correlation between relapse and survival. Compared with the control group, interleukin 4 (IL-4) and IL-10 concentrations in the peripheral blood of the observation group, prior to and following surgery, were significantly higher, whilst IL-2 and interferon-γ (INF-γ) concentrations were significantly lower (P<0.05). In the observation group, the IL-4 and IL-10 concentrations were significantly decreased following surgery, as compared with prior to surgery (P<0.05), whilst the IL-2 and INF-γ concentrations increased significantly (P<0.05). The one- and three-year cumulative relapse frequencies of patients with postoperative IL-4 abnormalities were significantly increased compared with those in patients with normal IL-4 levels following surgery (P<0.05), and the median survival time and survival rate significantly decreased in patients with postoperative IL-4 abnormalities (P<0.05). In terms of the three-year cumulative relapse rate, median survival time, and one- and three-year cumulative survival rate, patients with postoperative IL-2, IL-10 and INF-γ level abnormalities did not present any statistical significance compared with those without such abnormalities (P>0.05). In conclusion, Th2 cytokines dominate the peripheral blood of NSCLC patients and radical surgery treatment may improve the Th1/Th2 shift in patients. Furthermore, postoperative IL-4 levels were observed to correlate with relapse and the survival rate of patients; therefore, IL-4 may be considered as an auxiliary in the postoperative diagnosis during clinical practice.
Highlights
Lung cancer is one of the most commonly observed malignancies in clinical diagnosis
Causes of relapse in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may include the incomplete resection of the tumor and the inhibition of the human immune system, which may enable tumor cells to avoid immune killing [4]
The interleukin 4 (IL‐4) (3.03±0.37 mg/ml) and IL‐10 (4.96±0.42 mg/ml) concentrations in the peripheral blood of the observation group had decreased significantly compared with the levels prior to surgery (P
Summary
Lung cancer is one of the most commonly observed malignancies in clinical diagnosis. Radical surgery is commonly used to treat NSCLC; relapse frequently occurs following surgery, which reduces the postoperative survival time of patients [3]. Causes of relapse in NSCLC may include the incomplete resection of the tumor and the inhibition of the human immune system, which may enable tumor cells to avoid immune killing [4]. The Th1 subgroup releases interleukin 2 (IL‐2) and interferon‐γ (INF‐γ), which has antitumor effects in the human body. The Th2 subgroup predominantly releases IL‐4 and IL‐10, which are involved in the inhibition of the immune system, preventing the human body from killing tumor cells [5,6]
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