Jun-Tao Tan1, Jian-Hong Zhong2, Yang Yang3, Nai-Qun Mao1, De-Seng Liu1, Ding-Ming Huang1, Yong-Xiang Zhao4, Chuan-Tian Zuo5. 1. Thoracic Surgery Department, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, PR China. 2. Surgery Oncology Department, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, PR China. 3. Hematology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, PR China. 4. Thoracic Surgery Department, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, PR China; Immunology Department, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, PR China. Electronic address: zhaoyongxiang1965@163.com. 5. Thoracic Surgery Department, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, PR China. Electronic address: zuochuantian@163.com.
Abstract
AIM: The aim of the study was to compare postoperative immune function in patients with thoracic esophageal cancer (EC) after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) or conventional open esophagectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Medical records were retrospectively analyzed for 228 patients with thoracic EC treated at a single hospital using VATS (n = 52) or conventional open esophagectomy (n = 176). Proportions of CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+), and natural kill (NK) cells, as well as the ratio of CD4(+) to CD8(+) cells, were measured in the two groups using flow cytometry on preoperative day (PrD) 1 and postoperative days (PoD) 1 and 7. RESULTS: Proportions of CD3(+), CD4(+), and NK cells as well as the CD4+/CD8+ ratio decreased significantly from PrD1 to PoD1 in both the VATS and open esophagectomy groups. In the VATS group, these parameters had returned to preoperative levels (PrD1) by PoD7. These parameters in open esophagectomy group increased from PoD1 to PoD7 but also lowered significantly to PrD1 by PoD7. The proportion of CD8(+) cells was similar between the two groups at all time points tested. CONCLUSION: Patients may experience less postoperative immune suppression after VATS than after conventional open esophagectomy, and they may recover preoperative immune function more quickly.
AIM: The aim of the study was to compare postoperative immune function in patients with thoracic esophageal cancer (EC) after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) or conventional open esophagectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Medical records were retrospectively analyzed for 228 patients with thoracic EC treated at a single hospital using VATS (n = 52) or conventional open esophagectomy (n = 176). Proportions of CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+), and natural kill (NK) cells, as well as the ratio of CD4(+) to CD8(+) cells, were measured in the two groups using flow cytometry on preoperative day (PrD) 1 and postoperative days (PoD) 1 and 7. RESULTS: Proportions of CD3(+), CD4(+), and NK cells as well as the CD4+/CD8+ ratio decreased significantly from PrD1 to PoD1 in both the VATS and open esophagectomy groups. In the VATS group, these parameters had returned to preoperative levels (PrD1) by PoD7. These parameters in open esophagectomy group increased from PoD1 to PoD7 but also lowered significantly to PrD1 by PoD7. The proportion of CD8(+) cells was similar between the two groups at all time points tested. CONCLUSION:Patients may experience less postoperative immune suppression after VATS than after conventional open esophagectomy, and they may recover preoperative immune function more quickly.