Effects of adaptive immune cell therapy on the immune cell profile in patients with advanced gastric cancer

Abstract

Background: Immunotherapy for cancer patients has been the subject of attention in recent years. In this study, we investigated whether αβT-cell therapy causes changes in the host's immune cell profile, and if so, the effect of these changes on prognosis. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 30 gastric cancer patients who had completed one course of αβT-cell therapy were analyzed. The peripheral blood immune cell profile was established using PBMCs by counting the frequency of CD4+ helper T cells, CD8+ killer T cells, regulatory T cells (Tregs), and myeloid-derived suppressor cells and measuring the expression of their surface markers. The changes after treatment and their association with response to treatment were investigated. Results: Immune cell profiles changed greatly after treatment. The frequency of CD4+ helper T cells decreased, but that of CD8+ killer T cells increased. The frequency of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)+ effector Tregs increased significantly, but only in the non-progressive disease (non-PD) group, in which it was significantly higher compared with the PD group. Patients in whom the frequency of PD-1+ effector Tregs increased had a significantly better prognosis than those in whom it decreased. Conclusion: Our results suggested that αβT-cell therapy changes the host's immune cell profile, and an increase in PD-1+ effector Tregs may help improve prognosis.