Dynamic observation and clinical assessment of integrated traditional chinese and western medicine on interleukin-2 system, T Cell and erythrocyte immune system in patients of lung cancer

Abstract

Objective

To study the dynamic changes and its clinical significance of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine (TCM-WM) on IL-2 system, T cell and erythrocyte immune system in patients of lung cancer.

Methods

Forty-eight patients with lung cancer were randomly divided into two groups: TCM-WM group (Group I ) and the chemotherapy group(Group II). The relevant immune indices, clinical symptoms and signs, changes of solid tumor and quality of life were dynamically observed and compared with those in 20 healthy subjects for control.

Results

The serum IL-2 level of lung cancer patients were originally significantly lower, while sIL-2R level higher than that of the healthy subjects. And they were raised and lowered respectively after treatment, especially in Group I, but still remained different from the control group yet. And there were highly negative correlation between IL-2 and sIL-2R levels. The percentage of CD3, CD4 and the CD4/CD8 ratio were decreased markedly in both groups. And the percentage of RBC-C3bRR was obviously lower, while that of RBC-ICR obviously higher. But the above-mentioned indices could be improved after treatment, especially in Group I, and there were highly positive correlation between CD4/CD8 ratio and RBC-C3bRR. However, in regard to the degree of improvement, the patients of Group I were in better position than those of Group II. At the same time, improvement of their clinical symptoms and signs, change of entity tumor and quality of life of Group I all proved to be better than those of Group II.

Conclusion

The therapeutic superiority of TCM-WM on lung cancer may be related to the modulation on immune function. The effect of TCM-WM is better than that of chemotherapy alone.