Abstract
Most anticancer drugs produce cytotoxicites in cancer cells, but also generate effects in normal cells that create undesirable side effects, especially for immune functioning cells which have already been suppressed by cancer invasion or biological effects. The SB natural anticancer drug is a root extract of the Pulsatilla koreana plant that has been used in Korea as an effective anticancer agent for more than 20 different malignant tumors without triggering significant adverse reactions. We investigated the effects of the SB anticancer drug on human immune cells in cancer patients. 24 consecutive patients, with histologically proven cancers, received SB drug treatments and 20 control patients did not receive SB administrations. Both groups were immunologically tested before and after their SB treatments for 14 days and then weekly for the 3<sup>rd</sup>, 4<sup>th</sup>, 5<sup>th</sup> and 6<sup>th</sup> weeks thereafter. The total number of white blood cells with differential counts including monocytes and lymphocytes were checked. Immunoassay and flow cytometry were used to analyse CD4 and CD8 T cell percentages, total cell counts with their ratios, as well as CD16/56 natural killer cell percentages and cell counts. Total white blood cell counts normalized within 10 days after the SB drug administrations. The total lymphocyte counts were slightly increased, but remained within normal parameters. CD4 and CD8 T cells, as well as CD 16/56 NK cell percentages, became normal within 10 days; their total cell counts were initially increased (26.3%, 45.2%, and 16.7%, respectively) and then became normal. The SB drug was found to be effective cytoapoptotically and was also effective for immune cell recovery in cancer patients in their initial period of the SB drug treatment. These were patients who had already had a bone marrow suppression by cancer invasion and/or prior chemotherapy.
Highlights
In advanced cancer treatments, anticancer drugs have commonly been used for more than half of century until now
Our data reveals that total white blood cell counts were not significantly changed, but monocyte counts were slightly decreased after SB administration
Disrupted CD4 T cell percentages were normalized 10 days after the SB administration, and decreased cell counts were moderately increased to the normal level seen within the healthy Korean population [13]
Summary
Anticancer drugs have commonly been used for more than half of century until now. Most of anticancer drugs impact their cytotoxicities, on cancer cells, and on normal cells. This causes undesirable toxic side effects, especially on immune functioning cells. CD4 T cells are generally called “Helper T cells” (Th) that send helpful signals to produce antibody production in other types of lymphocytes, like B lymphocytes, which play a key role in antibody production. There are many subsets in CD4 T cells, such as Th1, Th2, Th17 cells, follicular helper T (Tfh) cells and even regulatory T (Treg) cells Their functions are so diverse that they are stimulatory in some cases, while being inhibitory in others. These have killer functions for virus-infected or tumor cells
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