Changes of immunological parameters with administration of Japanese Kampo medicine (Juzen-Taihoto/TJ-48) in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer

摘要

Background: The prognosis of pancreatic cancer is extremely poor regardless of various combination therapies. Immunoaugumentation against tumor cells was recently A focus. We reported that the population of Foxp3+CD25 +CD4+ regulatory T cells (Foxp3+Treg) was the new parameter for the estimation of host immunity and had correlation with tumor aggressiveness. Here we show the immunoaugumentation effects of Japanese Kampo medicine, Juzen-Taihoto/TJ-48, empirically considered as an immunoaugumentation drug, with investigation of Treg and other immunological parameters. Patients and method: Peripheral Foxp3+ Treg populations, CD4/CD8 ratio, and CD57+ cells (NK cells) populations in advanced pancreatic cancer patients (n = 30, stage VI A and B according to TNM classification) were estimated after TJ-48 administration for 14 days before the anti-cancer therapy. Results: Treg populations were significantly increased compared to healthy donors (Mann-Whitney U test, P 0.001). Administration of Juzen-Taihoto/TJ-48 significantly decreased Treg populations (Mann-Whitney U test, P 0.001) and increased the CD4/CD8 ratio (Mann-Whitney U test, P 0.01), even though CD57+ cell populations did not change significantly. Conclusions: Juzen-Taihoto/TJ-48 increased regulatory activities in T cells through decreasing Foxp3+ Treg populations in advanced pancreatic cancer patients. This effect can lead to immunoaugumentation for various combination therapies.