Changes in cellular immunity during chemotherapy for testicular cancer

Abstract

Background: The changes in vivo in immunocyte functions during chemotherapy that is administered in combination with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in humans have not been fully investigated. This study was designed to examine neutrophil functions and the activities of natural killer (NK) cells, during the administration of chemotherapy and G-CSF for the treatment of testicular cancer. Methods: Seven patients with germ cell tumors at stage IIA, IIB or IIIB, who were treated with bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin (BEP), were enrolled in the study. Numbers and activities of neutrophils and NK cells were measured at various times during and after the first course of chemotherapy. Neutrophil phagocytosis was quantitated by flow cytometry with fluorescent latex beads. Bactericidal activity was measured in terms of colony-forming units. The activity of NK cells was measured by monitoring the release of 51 Cr. Results: After BEP chemotherapy, CD16 + and CD56 + cell counts, and neutrophil granulocyte counts decreased while there were no significant changes in the number of lymphocytes. Phagocytosis by neutrophils was enhanced after administration of G-CSF. The activity of NK cells was severely impaired after chemotherapy and did not change after administration of G-CSF.

Effects of Chemotherapy Agents on Circulating Leukocyte Populations: Potential Implications for the Success of CAR-T Cell Therapies

“…Natural killer (NK) cells are innate effector cells that play an important role in controlling the development of neoplasia [ 78 ]. Different chemotherapy regimens have diverse quantitative and qualitative effects on NK cells [ 73 , 79 , 80 ]. In testicular cancer patients, the mean absolute number of NK cells (defined as CD16 + /CD56 + ) was significantly decreased after initiating treatment with a combination of cisplatin, bleomycin, etoposide and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), then slowly increased but did not return to pre-treatment levels by the end of the first cycle (day 21) [ 80 ].…”

“…Different chemotherapy regimens have diverse quantitative and qualitative effects on NK cells [ 73 , 79 , 80 ]. In testicular cancer patients, the mean absolute number of NK cells (defined as CD16 + /CD56 + ) was significantly decreased after initiating treatment with a combination of cisplatin, bleomycin, etoposide and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), then slowly increased but did not return to pre-treatment levels by the end of the first cycle (day 21) [ 80 ]. In contrast, in breast cancer patients, the combination of doxorubicin with fluorouracil and cyclophosphamide was reported to result in a significant increase in NK cell number after the first two cycles, with a continued increase until the end of treatment (at cycle 6) [ 79 ].…”

Effects ofBifidobacterium longumBB536 Administration on Influenza Infection, Influenza Vaccine Antibody Titer, and Cell-Mediated Immunity in the Elderly

“…Neutrophil phagocytic activity and neutrophil bactericidal activity were measured by flow cytometry. 8) NK cell activity was assayed using the K-562 cell line labeled with 51 Cr as target cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) isolated from the blood as effector cells. The effector cells and target cells were incubated at a ratio of 20:1.…”

Effects of Chemotherapy on Immune Responses in Dogs with Cancer

“…For example, lymphocyte depletion in human patients undergoing chemotherapy has been reported, but the degree of lymphocyte depletion appeared to be dependent on the particular chemotherapy protocol. [1][2][3][4] Lymphocyte depletion, specifically, depletion of CD4 + T cells, may persist long after completion of chemotherapy. 5,6 Not all chemotherapy agents are equally immunosuppressive.…”