Analysis of relationship between innate lymphocyte subsets inbalance and NSCLC based on flow cytometry technology

Abstract:

Objective：To explore the relationship between the innate lymphoid cells（ILCs） and the occurrence，development and prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer（NSCLC）. Methods：70 patients diagnosed as NSCLC from January 2012 to January 2014 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University were enrolled as NSCLC group. 70 healthy examiners with matching gender ratio and age in the hospital for physical examination at the same time period were selected as control group. Flow cytometry was used to detect the proportion of ILCs subsets in the two groups. The levels of ILCs-related cytokines were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）. The clinical data and follow-up data were collected，and the relationship between ILC1，ILC2 and ILC3 and clinical features and prognosis of NSCLC was analyzed. Results：Compared with control group，the levels of ILC1 and IFN-γ with （8.61±3.78）% and （27.24±12.85） ng/L in NSCLC group decreased（P<0.05），while the levels of ILC2，ILC3，IL-5 and IL-17 with （1.29±0.64）%，（3.64±1.93）%，（22.70±9.94） ng/L and （8.10±2.09） ng/L increased（P<0.05）. ILC1 was positively cor－related with IFN-γ（r=0.780，P<0.05），ILC2 was positively correlated with IL-5（r=0.704，P<0.05），and ILC3 was positively correlated with IL-17（r=0.654，P<0.05）. The levels of ILC1，ILC2 and ILC3 were associated with lymph node metastasis and TNM staging（P<0.05）. The overall survival（OS） was significantly longer among patients with no lymph node metastasis，low TNM stage，ILC1 level ≥8.98% and ILC2 level <1.37%（P<0.05）. The median survival time was 49 months in patients with ILC1≥8.98%，and 38 months in patients with with ILC1<8.98%，and there were significant differences in the survival curves between the two groups（P<0.05）. The median survival time was 34 months in patients with ILC2≥1.37% and 46 months in patients with ILC2<1.37%，and there were significant differences in the survival curves between the two groups（P<0.05）. Multivariate analysis showed that lymph node metastasis，TNM stage III，IV and ILC2≥1.37% were indepen－dent risk factors for OS（P<0.05），and ILC1≥8.98% was an independent protective factor for OS（P<0.05）. Conclusion：NSCLC patients have an imbalance of ILCs，and ILC2 and ILC3 have obvious advantages. The detection of ILC1 and ILC2 can evaluate the development and prognosis of disease to a certain extent.