Objective: To conduct an intensive investigation of the abnormal immune status of patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma and explore the possible mechanism of biotherapy for these patients.
Methods: The expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR)I and TNFR II on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from 30 normal subjects and 31 patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma were examined by flow cytometry and S-P staining assay. The effects of biotherapy and chemotherapy administered in the patients were also investigated in terms of the changes in the expressions.
Results: The TNFR I and TNFR II expressions in the patients were (28.35+/-9.09) % and (37.45+/-9.51) % respectively, significantly lower than those of normal subjects [(38.54+/-8.51) % and (44.89+/-9.08) %]. The biotherapy for the patients caused an increase of TNFR I expression to (42.86+/-9.02)%.
Conclusion: There are significant immune abnormalities in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma, and this study may offer some theoretical basis for the implementation of biotherapy in such cases.