The Change Of Peripheral Myeloid-derived Suppressor Cells In Patients With Primary Liver Cancer And Its Clinical Significance

ObjectiveTo investigate the the change of proportion and number of myeloid-derived suppressor cells(MDSCs) in the peripheral blood leucocytes of primary liver cancer patients and explore the clinical significance of change of MDSCs in the peripheral blood,and provide new ways for evaluating immune state and prognosis of primary liver cancer patients.Method30PLC patients with a homogeneous background of chronic HBV infection were enrolled in this study. PLC stage was evaluated according to the criteria for diagnosis and staging primary liver cancer constituted by the Chinese Ant-cancer Association in2001. Blood samples were also obtained from15liver cirrhosis(LC) patients all of which was a consequence of HBV infection. Control blood samples were also taken from18age-and sex-matched healthy blood donors. Flow cytometry was performed and the data was analyzed by using Cell Quest software. The percentage of MDSCs was determined using three-color flow cytometry. The number of MDSCs were calculated based on the peripheral blood whole white blood cell count at time of sampling. Differences in the level of MDSCs among the different groups were analyzed.ResultThe frequency and number of CD33+HLA-DR-cells,CD33+CD14-HLA-DR" cells,CD14+HLA-DR-cells in peripheral whole blood from PLC patients was significantly increased in comparison with healthy control group and liver cirrhosis(P<0.01).The frequency and number of CD33+HLA-DR-cells,CD33+CD14-HLA-DR-cells,CD14+HLA-DR-cells in peripheral whole blood of PLC was significantly correlated with portal vein tumor thrombus and tumor number(P<0.01).There is a positive correlation between CD33+CD14-HLA-DR-cells count and CD14+HLA-DR-cells count(r=0.724, P<0.01).The increase of percentage and number of MDSCs was greater in patients at Stage Ⅲ and Ⅱ than in patients at stage Ⅰ. ConclusionMDSCs was significantly increased in blood of PLC patients. The increase of MDSCs was significantly correlated with the portal vein tumor thrombus, tumor number and clinical stage. MDSCs play a negative regulatory role in the immune of PLC. Targeting of MDSC may provide a promising approach for anti-cancer therapy.