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Changes in the immune cell population and cell proliferation in peripheral blood after gemcitabine-based chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer

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Abstract

Purpose

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a role in the immunosuppressive state in pancreatic cancer patients. We aimed to evaluate the changes of immune cells population including Tregs caused by gemcitabine (GEM)-based chemotherapy.

Methods

Fifty-three patients with pancreatic cancer were enrolled in this study, of which 32 received GEM- based chemotherapy. Blood samples were collected before and at least 2 weeks after the last dose of chemotherapy. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were subjected to flow cytometry analysis after labeling with anti-CD4, anti-CD25, and anti-Foxp3 antibodies. Other lymphocytes and NK cell markers were also measured. The proliferative capacity of PBMCs stimulated with anti-CD3 was analyzed using H3 thymidine.

Results

The percentage and number of Tregs were significantly decreased after chemotherapy (p = 0.032, p = 0.003, respectively). The other immune cells and the proliferative capacity did not change.

Conclusion

This study showed that GEM-based chemotherapy produced an immunomodulatory effect via the depletion of Tregs.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0004, Japan

    Y. Homma, K. Taniguchi, R. Matsuyama, R. Mori, K. Takeda, Y. Ichikawa, K. Tanaka & I. Endo

  2. Department of Experimental Animal Science, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0004, Japan

    M. Nakazawa

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  1. Y. Homma
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  2. K. Taniguchi
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  3. M. Nakazawa
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  4. R. Matsuyama
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  5. R. Mori
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  6. K. Takeda
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  7. Y. Ichikawa
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  8. K. Tanaka
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  9. I. Endo
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Correspondence to I. Endo.

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Homma, Y., Taniguchi, K., Nakazawa, M. et al. Changes in the immune cell population and cell proliferation in peripheral blood after gemcitabine-based chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer. Clin Transl Oncol 16, 330–335 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-013-1079-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-013-1079-0

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