The role of chemotherapy and operation on lymphocytes accumulation in peripheral blood obtained from patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

The “Cancer Immunoediting” concept has provided critical insights suggesting dual functions of immune system during the cancer initiation and development. However, the dynamics and roles of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, CD19+ B cells, and CD56+ NK cells in the patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma during treatment remain unclear. A total of 43 patients with OSCC were divided into different groups according to different clinical factors (TNM staging, pathological patterns, age and genders) for assessment of relations with CD3+CD4+ T cells, CD3+CD8+ T cells, CD3−CD19+ B cells and CD3−CD16+CD56+ NK cells and different chemotherapy and radical operation. The expression of CD3+CD4+ T cells were significantly increased in advanced tumor stage, large tumor size and positive lymph nodes metastasis, compared to that in early groups. The accumulation of CD3+CD4+ T cells were significantly increased in OSCC patients received 2 cycles CT and radical operation. Moreover, the accumulation of CD3+CD8+ T cells were significantly decreased in OSCC patients received 2 cycles CT and radical operation. The distribution of circulating CD3−CD19+ B cells was related with radical operation in patients with OSCC. This study indicate that CD4+ T cells have opposing roles in OSCC progression and outcomes, which provides new insights relevant for the development of effective cancer immunotherapeutic approaches. 2 cycles TP regime chemotherapy and radical therapy may contribute to increase the effects of anti-tumor immunity on patients with OSCC.