Treatment with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization induces an increase of the L-selectin(low) CXCR3+ CD8+ T cell subset in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of treatment with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization on the expression of chemokine receptors on memory T cells around tumor sites in vivo in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: Blood samples from the hepatic artery and a peripheral vein were collected from 100 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma before and 4 weeks after treatment with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization. Mononuclear cells were isolated and examined for the expression of L-selectin (CD62L) and CXCR3 (CD183) on CD8+ T cells in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma during transcatheter arterial chemoembolization. RESULTS: Both the frequency and number of L-selectin(low) CXCR3+ proinflammatory effector T cells in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma increased significantly following treatment versus pretreatment (61.92% ± 8.69% versus 24.45% ± 7.36%, P < 0.05, and 18.98 ± 2.33 e7/L versus 6.10 ± 1.21 e7/L, P < 0.001, respectively). There was no significant difference in its frequency whether in the hepatic artery or peripheral vein. Furthermore, the frequency of CD69+ T cells in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma increased from 2.53% ± 0.51% in the artery and 2.38% ± 0.49% in the vein to 3.80% ± 0.62% and 4.48% ± 0.75%, respectively, after treatment (both P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Treatment with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization may lead to an increase in L-selectin(low) CXCR3+ effector T cells in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.