The role of memory CD8 T cell function in non-small cell lung cancers

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the deadliest tumors. Given the failure of conventional therapeutic strategies, immunotherapy has emerged as a promising treatment modality that is operable and can improve the survival rate of patients with advanced disease. In our thesis study, we investigated the impact of initial T lymphocyte subtypes on treatment response in patients with lung cancer who were scheduled to undergo chemotherapy. T lymphocytes in peripheral blood samples from 44 patients diagnosed with NSCLC were analyzed by flow cytometry and immunophenotyping using a labeled monoclonal antibody panel. In our study, the most frequently observed subtype was the CD28(+)-CD27(+) subtype with a median value of over 80%, while the CD28(+)-CD27(-) subtype was 6% and fewer than CD28( -)-CD27(+) and CD28(-)-CD27(-) subtypes were observed. Statistical significance was observed between the pre-treatment NLR (p=0.033) and TLR (p=0.036) values of patients in the KT response and non-KT response groups. In the univariate model, statistical significance was found for the parameters PD1 and CD28(+) CD27(+) on CD4 cells, PD1, CD28(+) CD27(+), CD28(-) CD27(-), LDH and hemoglobin on CD8 cells in predicting overall survival (p<0.05). In the multivariate reduced model, the effect of PD1 on CD4 cells was observed in predicting overall survival (p<0.05). In predicting disease-free survival, a correlation was observed between CD28(+) CD27(+) and CD28(-) CD27(+) on CD4 cells, CD28(+) CD27(+) on CD8 cells, LDH and absolute lymphocyte levels (p<0.05). In multivariate analysis, significance was found between PD1 on CD4 cells, CD28(+) CD27(+) on CD8 cells and absolute lymphocyte count in predicting disease-free survival (p<0.05). It is therefore assumed that patients, especially those with CD28(-), have a shorter survival rate and that the decrease or absence of target markers increases the aggressiveness of the malignancy.