EFFECT OF CONCURRENT CHEMORADIOTHERAPY ON PERIPHERAL BLOOD LYMPHOCYTES, CYTOKINES, AND GUT MICROBIOTA IN PATIENTS WITH PELVIC TUMOR

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of concurrent chemoradiotherapy on immune function, inflammatory state, and gut microbiota in patients with pelvic tumor. Methods Peripheral blood and stool samples were collected before and after concurrent chemoradiotherapy from 60 patients with pelvic tumor who were treated in Qingdao Central Hospital from July 2021 to December 2022. Flow cytometry was used to measure the levels of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets and cytokines, and quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the number of Fusobacterium nucleatum, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Streptococcus in stool. Each index was compared in terms of change before and after concurrent chemoradiotherapy, and their correlation with treatment outcome was analyzed. Results After concurrent chemoradiotherapy, the patients with pelvic tumor had significant reductions in the percentages of peripheral blood CD3+CD8+ and CD3-CD19+ cells and the level of interleukin-10 (t=2.571-2.995,P<0.05) and significant increases in the percentages of CD3+ and CD3+CD4+ cells, CD4+/CD8+ ratio, and the levels of interleukin-1β, interleukin-2, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferon gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (t=-4.321--2.638,P<0.05), as well as significant reductions in the number of Fusobacterium nucleatum, Bifidobacte-rium, and Lactobacillus acidophilus (t=3.128-3.954,P<0.05). The percentages of CD3+ and CD3+CD4+ cells and the number of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus acidophilus were positively correlated with treatment outcome (rs=0.440-0.540,P<0.05), while the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α and the number of Fusobacterium nucleatum were negatively correlated with treatment outcome (rs=-0.685--0.377,P<0.05). Conclusion Concurrent chemoradiotherapy for patients with pelvic tumor can activate the anti-tumor immune function of the body, promote inflammatory response, and lead to the reductions in intestinal pathogenic bacteria and probiotics, thereby causing gut microbiota disturbance. The percentages of CD3+ and CD4+ cells, the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, and the number of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Fusobacterium nucleatum are closely asso-ciated with treatment outcome.

Keywords

• pelvic neoplasms|uterine cervical neoplasms|rectal neoplasms|chemoradiotherapy|cytokines|lymphocyte subsets|gastrointestinal microbiome|treatment outcome