Expression of IL-2R on peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with colorectal cancer and its clinical significance

Abstract

Objective: To study expression of membrane receptors of interleukin-2 (CD25) on the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of patients with colorectal cancer and its clinical significance. Methods: CD25 percentages (CD25%) in PBL of 105 colorectal cancer patients before operation and 100 normal individuals were examined by flow cytometer, and the results were clinically and pathologically analyzed. Results: The mean of CD25% in PBL of the normal individuals was 17.24±5.33, it was significantly lower (P<0.01) than that of the colon cancer patients (21.29±7.95) or rectal cancer patients (21.62±6.11). In contrast to the normal individuals, the means of CD25% in PBL in ulcer type (20.53±6.50) or protruded type (21.56±6.16) colorectal cancer patients were notably elevated (P<0.01). The significant difference (P<0.01) of means of CD25% in PBL was observed between the normal individuals and patients with less than 4 cm mass (22.10±5.43) or 4cm–8cm mass (20.90±6.96). The significant difference (P<0.05) of means of CD25% in PBL was also observed between the normal individuals and patients with greater than 8 cm mass (21.56±5.41). The mean of CD25% in PBL in patients with well differentiation colorectal cancer was 22.20±5.50, it was significantly higher than that in normal individuals (P<0.05). The means of CD25% in PBL in patients with middle or poor differentiation colorectal cancer were 21.30±6.89 and 22.15±5.71 respectively, they were obviously higher than that in normal individuals (P<0.01). The significant difference (P<0.01) of means of CD25% in PBL was present between the colorectal cancer patients without metastatic lymph nodes (22.06±6.90) and normal individuals. The significant difference (P<0.05) of means of CD25% in PBL was present between the colorectal cancer patients with metastatic lymph nodes (20.73±6.40) and normal individuals. The means of CD25% in PBL in colorectal cancer patients in various clinic stages were significantly higher than that in the health subjects (P<0.01). The significant difference (P<0.01) of means of CD25% in PBL was present between the patients whose ages were equal to or less than 60 (21.00±5.76) and normal individuals in the same age group. The significant difference (P<0.05) of means of CD25% in PBL was also present between the patients whose ages were greater than 60 (22.54±7.75) and normal individuals in the same age group. The significant difference (P<0.01) of means of CD25% in PBL was present between the male patients (22.55±7.05) and normal men. The significant difference (P<0.05) of means of CD25% in PBL was also present between the female patients (20.09±5.48) and normal women. Conclusion: The mean of CD25% in PBL of colorectal cancer patients was significantly higher than that in health subjects. Abnormally elevated CD25% were correlative with site of tumor growth, macropathology type of tumor, the degree of tumor differentiation, clinical stage and patient’s age and sex. It may be helpful to detect CD25% in PBL of colorectal cancer patients before operation for diagnosis, immune treatment and judging prognosis.