A Study On Changes Of T-lymphocyte Subsets And Tumor Markers In Patients With Breast Cancer Before And After Radiotherapy

Objective:To investigate changes of T-lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of patients with breast cancer before and after radiotherapy and serum tumor markers including CEA, AFP, CA125and CA15-3as well as the clinical significance.Methods:38female breast cancer patients treated in the First Hospital of Lanzhou University Radiotherapy Center from January2009to May2013were retrospectively analyzed. Percentages of CD3+T, CD4+T and CD8+T cells in peripheral blood of38breast cancer patients and30healthy women were determined by flow cytometry. Meanwhile, the ratio of CD4+to CD8+was measured. Besides, the concentration of CEA, AFP, CA125and CA15-3in peripheral serum of38breast cancer patients and30healthy women was determined by chemiluminescence immunoassay.Results:Percentage of CD3and CD4and the ratio of CD4+to CD8+were lower in breast cancer patients that had received radiotherapy compared with those of the healthy control group, while the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). For breast cancer patients, the percentage of CD3and CD4declined after radiotherapy, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The concentration of breast cancer patients’ CEA, AFP and CA15-3was higher than the healthy control group’s with statistically significant difference (P<0.05) no matter after or before radiotherapy. For breast cancer patients, the concentration of CEA, AFP and CA15-3decreased after radiotherapy with statistical significance (P<0.05). For breast cancer patients whose percentage of CD4+T cells was abnormal, the concentration of CEA and CA15-3declined after radiotherapy with statistical significance (P<0.05). The concentration of CEA, AFP, CA125and CA15-3decreased after radiotherapy with statistical significance (P<0.05) in breast cancer patients whose percentage of CD4+T cells was normal.Conclusion:Radiotherapy for breast cancer may further weaken immunological functions that have been in disorder in body. In treating breast cancer patients with radiotherapy, it is necessary to monitor changes of T-lymphocyte subsets. The effects of radiotherapy for breast cancer may be presented by combined monitoring of the changes to concentration of CEA, AFP and CA15-3. Based on the changes to concentration of CEA, AFP, CA125and CA15-3, it may be indicated that better effects will be achieved by radiotherapy once the percentage of breast cancer patients’ CD4+T cells is within the normal range.