[Usefulness in predicting parameters for the selection of responders who received immunochemotherapy with PSK in patients with colorectal cancer].

ABSTRACT

It is very important for immunotherapy to release Th2-dominated immunological conditions in patients with malignant diseases. In the present study, we assessed the intracellular cytokine profiles of CD4 positive cells in peripheral blood in patients with colorectal cancer using a flow cytometric analysis and we investigated whether Th2-dominated immunological conditions could be released by PSK. Peripheral blood samples were collected preoperatively from 57 patients with colorectal cancer before and after the oral administration of PSK (3g/day x 1 week). After the PSK treatment, CD4(+)IL-10(+)T-cell percentages decreased significantly, whereas no significant change occurred in proportions of CD4(+)IL-6(+)T-cells. In the after/ before PSK treatment percentages, the ratio of CD4(+)IL-10(+)T-cells were significantly lower in non-recurrent patients compared with recurrent patients, whereas no significant difference was seen in the ratio of CD4(+)IL-6(+) T-cells. These results suggest that the after/before percentage ratio of CD4(+)IL-10(+)T-cells may be useful predicting parameters for the selection of responders.