Eva K Sage1, Thomas E Schmid2, Michael Sedelmayr1, Mathias Gehrmann1, Hans Geinitz3, Marciana N Duma4, Stephanie E Combs2, Gabriele Multhoff5. 1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München (TUM), Germany. 2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München (TUM), Germany; HelmholtzZentrum München, Department of Radiation Sciences (DRS), Institute of Innovative Radiotherapy (iRT), Germany; Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Germany. 3. Department of Radiation Oncology, Krankenhaus der Barmherzigen Schwestern and Medical Faculty, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria. 4. Department of Radiation Oncology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München (TUM), Germany; HelmholtzZentrum München, Department of Radiation Sciences (DRS), Institute of Innovative Radiotherapy (iRT), Germany. 5. Department of Radiation Oncology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München (TUM), Germany; HelmholtzZentrum München, Department of Radiation Sciences (DRS), Institute of Innovative Radiotherapy (iRT), Germany; Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Germany. Electronic address: gabriele.multhoff@tum.de.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide and surgery, radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy (ChT) are frequently used to treat this cancer. Adjuvant RT has been shown to cause long-term changes in lymphocyte counts in the peripheral blood. Herein, the time course of changes in lymphocyte subpopulations upon RT was studied in patients with and without adjuvant ChT in order to explore its potential clinical impact. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total lymphocyte counts and the composition of lymphocyte subpopulations before RT (t0), after 30 Gy (t1), at the end of RT (t2), and 6 weeks (t3), 6 months (t4), and 1 year (t5) after RT were studied by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Absolute lymphocyte counts were significantly lower in all breast cancer patients (n=40) before and also 1 year after RT compared to healthy controls. The percentage of CD3(+)/CD4(+) helper T cells and FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells increased significantly in patients without adjuvant ChT. Different NK cell subpopulations dropped during RT in patients with and without ChT, but recovered to initial levels 6months after RT (t4). During RT (t0-t2) the percentage of CD19(+) B cells significantly dropped in patients without ChT, but gradually increased in patients with adjuvant ChT. Both patient groups reached initial levels 6 months after RT (t4). CONCLUSION: Different lymphocyte subpopulations respond differently to RT with and without adjuvant ChT. CD4(+) T cells increase during RT, whereas NK cells and B cells decrease in patients without ChT, but recover within 6 months after RT. Treg cells gradually increase in patients without ChT from t0 to t5, but not in patients with adjuvant ChT.
BACKGROUND:Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide and surgery, radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy (ChT) are frequently used to treat this cancer. Adjuvant RT has been shown to cause long-term changes in lymphocyte counts in the peripheral blood. Herein, the time course of changes in lymphocyte subpopulations upon RT was studied in patients with and without adjuvant ChT in order to explore its potential clinical impact. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total lymphocyte counts and the composition of lymphocyte subpopulations before RT (t0), after 30 Gy (t1), at the end of RT (t2), and 6 weeks (t3), 6 months (t4), and 1 year (t5) after RT were studied by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Absolute lymphocyte counts were significantly lower in all breast cancerpatients (n=40) before and also 1 year after RT compared to healthy controls. The percentage of CD3(+)/CD4(+) helper T cells and FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells increased significantly in patients without adjuvant ChT. Different NK cell subpopulations dropped during RT in patients with and without ChT, but recovered to initial levels 6months after RT (t4). During RT (t0-t2) the percentage of CD19(+) B cells significantly dropped in patients without ChT, but gradually increased in patients with adjuvant ChT. Both patient groups reached initial levels 6 months after RT (t4). CONCLUSION: Different lymphocyte subpopulations respond differently to RT with and without adjuvant ChT. CD4(+) T cells increase during RT, whereas NK cells and B cells decrease in patients without ChT, but recover within 6 months after RT. Treg cells gradually increase in patients without ChT from t0 to t5, but not in patients with adjuvant ChT.
Authors: Eva K Sage; Thomas E Schmid; Hans Geinitz; Mathias Gehrmann; Michael Sedelmayr; Marciana N Duma; Stephanie E Combs; Gabriele Multhoff Journal: Strahlenther Onkol Date: 2017-05-12 Impact factor: 3.621
Authors: Cai Xu; Jian-Yue Jin; Ming Zhang; Amy Liu; Jun Wang; Radhe Mohan; Fengming Spring Kong; Steven H Lin Journal: Radiother Oncol Date: 2020-03-19 Impact factor: 6.280
Authors: Lauryn R Werner; Jasdeep S Kler; Monica M Gressett; Maureen Riegert; Lindsey K Werner; Clinton M Heinze; Joseph G Kern; Mahyar Abbariki; Amy K Erbe; Ravi B Patel; Raghava N Sriramaneni; Paul M Harari; Zachary S Morris Journal: Radiother Oncol Date: 2017-09-08 Impact factor: 6.280