Evaluation of cellular immune function and gastric tumour for biomarkers after early enteral nutrition

Abstract

Gastric cancer has high morbidity and disability rates that influence the cellular immune function and the life quality of patients. Surgery is the first option for the treatment of gastric cancer and in some cases, it is combined with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This study aimed to evaluate the role of early enteral nutrition after gastric cancer surgery on postoperative cellular immune function and cancer biomarkers. One hundred patients with gastric carcinoma were included in the study. Patients were divided into the experimental group A and control group B, including 50 patients per group. Group A received early enteral nutrition treatment and group B received early parenteral nutrition treatment. The percentage of CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, NK cells, the CD4+/CD8 + ratio and the levels of CEA, CA125, CA19-9 were measured one day before the surgery, one day after the surgery and 14 days after the surgery in both groups. The percentage of CD3+ and CD4+ T cells, the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ and the percentage of NK cells was decreased in group A and group B one day after surgery compared with the levels before surgery. The decrease was significantly higher in group A compared with group B at 14 days after surgery. CEA, CA125, CA19-9 levels in both groups were decreased one day after surgery compared to the levels before surgery and this decrease was more significant in group A compared to group B, 14 days after surgery. Early enteral nutrition after gastric cancer surgery could effectively improve the patient's cellular immunity level and reduce the tumour markers in gastric cancer patients.