Changes in PD-1 expression on T lymphocyte subsets and related immune indicators before and after definitive chemoradiotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Creators: name: Shi, Xueling
name: Zhao, Hongyu
name: Yu, Jiaqi
name: Cai, Peng
name: Zhou, Shixiang
name: Yang, Ning
name: Li, Duojie
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Biophysics
subject: Medicine
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Physiology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Immunology
subject: FOS: Clinical medicine
subject: Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Developmental Biology
subject: Cancer

description: This study aimed to observe the dynamic changes in the expression of T lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) cells, and PD-1 in patients with first-diagnosed esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) before and after chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and evaluate the impact of PD-1 expression in peripheral blood on the short-term outcome of patients with ESCC. Seventy-three patients with ESCC who were treated with definitive CRT were enrolled. Before and after CRT, flow cytometry was used to detect thePD-1 expression in the peripheral blood and related immune indicators. Peripheral blood from 10 healthy individuals was used as control. The percentages of CD3<sup>+</sup> (<i>p</i> = 0.018), CD4<sup>+</sup> (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), and CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001); NK cells (<i>p</i> = 0.009); and the CD4<sup>+</sup>/CD8<sup>+</sup> ratio (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), as well as PD-1<sup>+</sup>CD3<sup>+</sup> (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), PD-1<sup>+</sup>CD4<sup>+</sup> (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), and PD-1<sup>+</sup>CD8<sup>+</sup> (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) T cells, before CRT significantly differed from those in the post-CRT group. The percentages of PD-1<sup>+</sup>CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells differed significantly between the radiotherapy alone and CRT groups (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). PD-1 expression in CD3<sup>+</sup>, CD4<sup>+</sup>, and CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells significantly decreased in patients achieving overall response rate (all <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Compared with those in the incomplete response group, PD-1<sup>+</sup>CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells significantly decreased in the CR group (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). CRT aggravated immunosuppression and increased PD-1 expression in T lymphocyte subsets in patients with ESCC, possibly related to the radiation field. PD-1 expression in T lymphocyte subsets can predict short-term outcomes in patients and provide a theoretical basis for the sequential application of PD-1 immunosuppressants after radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) reduced the overall immune function of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), and the degree of decline was related to the irradiation area.PD-1 expression in T lymphocytes increased considerably after CRT, suggesting that the sequential application of PD-1 immunosuppressants after radiotherapy and chemotherapy can be beneficial.PD-1 expression on T lymphocytes may serve as a potential indicator for predicting the short-term outcomes of ESCC. Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) reduced the overall immune function of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), and the degree of decline was related to the irradiation area. PD-1 expression in T lymphocytes increased considerably after CRT, suggesting that the sequential application of PD-1 immunosuppressants after radiotherapy and chemotherapy can be beneficial. PD-1 expression on T lymphocytes may serve as a potential indicator for predicting the short-term outcomes of ESCC.