Department of Gastroenterology, Cangshan Hospital, 900th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, China , 15980276855@163.com
Abstract: (8 Views)
Background:To investigate the host anti-tumor immune response induced by the combination of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) in patients with early gastrointestinal cancer (EGIC), and its impact on recurrence and immune modulation. Materials and Methods: A total of 120 patients diagnosed with EGIC were enrolled and divided into EMR-only (n=60) and EMR+PDT (n=60) groups. Peripheral blood samples were taken before treatment, and on days 7 and 30 post-treatment. Immune markers (CD4+, CD8+ T cells, NK cells) were measured by flow cytometry. Serum cytokines (IL-2, IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10) were assessed using ELISA. Recurrence was tracked over 6 months using endoscopic follow-up. Results: At day 30, the EMR+PDT group showed significantly elevated CD8+ T cell counts (P<0.01), IFN-γ levels (P<0.01), and NK cell activity (P<0.05) compared to EMR-only. There was a marked decrease in Treg cells and IL-10 in the EMR+PDT group (P<0.05). Recurrence rate was 5% in the PDT group versus 18% in EMR-only (P=0.01). Conclusion: PDT combined with EMR enhances host immune responses against tumor cells via immunogenic cell death, improving clinical outcomes in early gastrointestinal cancers.