Research Article, Cell Biol Henderson Nv Vol: 5 Issue: 1
Radiotherapy Effects on Immune System of Patients with Solid and Hematopoietic Tumors
Fernando Mendes1-4*, Cátia Domingues3,5, Paulo Rodrigues-Santos3,4,6,7, Vera Alves6, Inês-Nobre Gois8, Ana Margarida Abrantes1,3, Ana Cristina Gonçalves3,5, Mafalda Laranjo1,3, Ana Salomé Pires1,3, João Casalta1,3,8, Clara Rocha9,10, Ricardo Teixo1, Ana Bela Sarmento3,5, Maria Filomena Botelho1,3 and Manuel Santos Rosa6 |
1Biophysics and Biomathematics Institute, IBILI-Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Portugal |
2Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, ESTESC-Coimbra Health School, Department Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal |
3CIMAGO, FMUC-Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Portugal |
4CNC.IBILI, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal |
5Applied Molecular Biology and Clinical University of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal |
6Immunology Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal |
7Immunology and Oncology Laboratory, Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal |
8Radiation Oncology Department, Hospital and University Center of Coimbra, Portugal |
9Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, ESTESC-Coimbra Health School, Department Complementary Sciences, Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal |
10Institute for Systems Engineering and Computers at Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal |
Corresponding author : Fernando Mendes Departamento de Ciências Biomédicas Laboratoriais, ESTESC-Coimbra Health School, Rua 5 de Outubro, São Martinho do Bispo 3046-854 Coimbra, Portugal E-mail: fjmendes@estescoimbra.pt |
Received: March 07, 2016 Accepted: April 19, 2016 Published: April 25, 2016 |
Citation: Mendes F, Domingues C, Rodrigues-Santos P, Alves V, Gois IN, et al. (2016) Radiotherapy Effects on Immune System of Patients with Solid and Hematopoietic Tumors. Cell Biol: Res Ther 5:1. doi:10.4172/2324-9293.1000124 |
Abstract
Background: Radiotherapy (RT) recruits biological effectors outside the treatment field with systemic effects. Non-cancerous cells surrounding the tumor may play a pivotal role in cancer progression, as well as in metastasis. Local radiation triggers systemic effects, which in combination with immunotherapy may contribute to better treatment outcomes.
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate RT effects on peripheral immune system (IS) in patients with lung cancer (LC) or diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) after external beam radiotherapy.
Methods: We studied a group of LC and DLBCL patients immediately before RT (T0), half-treatment (T1) and 30 days after the end of treatment (T2). Blood samples were analyzed by flow cytometry for CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, CD56, CD25, CD127 FoxP3 expression. Procarta Cytokine Profiling kit was used to quantify cytokines and chemokines concentrations.
Results: In LC patients, a decrease in B, Natural Killer (NK) and cytotoxic NK cells were observed during treatment, associated with an increase of interleukin (IL)-27 and IL-7 from T0 to T1 and followed by a decrease at T2. DLBCL patients showed increased levels of induced regulatory T cells from T1 to T2 and interferon gamma (INF-γ) over time. Comparing the two pathologies, we perceived that LC patients had increased cell subpopulation levels of IL-1β, IL-2, INF-γ, IL-5 and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5 compared to DLBCL patients.
Conclusions: RT induces different IS responses between LC and DLBCL patients. Generally, the IS status of the patients at the beginning of the treatment can contribute to different RT treatment responses.