CELLULAR IMMUNITY AND CIRCULATING TUMOR CELLS` LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH LUNG CANCER OF DIFFERENT STAGE AND HISTOGENESIS
Levels of circulating tumor cells (CTC) were studied using CellSearch® System in 30 patients with lung small-cell and non-small-cell cancer (adenocarcinoma) cancer of III and IV stage before treatment. We found that in lung adenocarcinoma the incidence of CTC was higher, though their levels were more significant in small-cell lung cancer, and in IV stage compared to III one. Presence of CTC in small-cell lung cancer patients is associated with lower level of activated T-lymphocytes in both CD4+ and CD8+ subsets as well as of activated NK-cells, i.e. is characterized by depression of T- and NK-links of immune system. Both in small-cell lung cancer and in adenocarcinoma CTC levels strongly negatively correlated with memory T-cells` amount though in small-cell lung cancer correlation was observed with CD4+ and in adenocarcinoma with CD8+ T-lymphocytes of «memory» phenotype. Conclusion: Some correlations between CTC levels and amounts of minor lymphocytes` subsets: activated T- and NK- lymphocytes, memory T-cells were revealed.