The influence of different micro-injury interventional treatment on the T lymphocyte immune function in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective: To investigate the influence of different micro-injury interventional treatments on the T lymphocyte immune function in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: A total of 50 patients with pathologically - proved HCC were enrolled in this study. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) was carried out in 31 patients, while radiofrequency ablation (RFA) was performed in 19 patients. According to the tumor's diameter, the patients were divided into small HCC group (≤5 cm) and larger HCC group (>5 cm). Peripheral blood was taken before and one, seven days after the treatment to determine CD3, CD4, CD8 as well as the ratio of CD4/CD8 using flow cytometry, assay. The results were analyzed. Results: One day after either TACE or RFA treatment in small HCC group, T lymphocytes in peripheral blood, including CD3, CD4, CD8 as well as the ratio of CD4/CD8, were kept at the same levels as before. However, seven days after the treatment T lymphocytes (including CD3, CD4, CD8 as well as the ratio of CD4/CD8) were significantly increased in RFA group, while T lymphocytes were obviously decreases in TACE group. One day after either TACE or RFA treatment in larger HCC group, T lymphocytes showed a remarkable decrease in both groups (P<0.05), while seven days after the treatment T lymphocytes and the ratio of CD4/CD8 increased significantly, especially in RFA group. Conclusion: The different micro-injury interventional treatments carry different influences on the T lymphocyte immune function in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma, which may be related to the size of tumor. (authors)