Effects of locally advanced intracavitary brachytherapy on immune function and nutritional indicators in patients with rectal
adenocarcinoma
Fu Chenping, Jiang Huangang, Peng Jin, Zhou Fuxiang
Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors Hubei Clinical Cancer Study
Center Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University Wuhan 430071 Hubei China
Abstract：Objective This study aimed to investigate the influence of intracavitary brachytherapy on immune function and
nutritional indicators in patients with rectal adenocarcinoma. Method A total of 89 patients with locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma
admitted to the Oncology Department of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University from May 2016 to July 2024 were included. According
to the treatment regimens they were divided into the study group neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy combined intracavitary
brachytherapy n = 33 patients and the control group neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy n = 56 patients . Peripheral blood absolute
lymphocyte counts ALC and their subsets albumin and total protein levels 1 week before treatment and 1 month after the end of
radiotherapy were obtained. The effects of different treatment groups on immune function lymphocytes and their subsets and
nutritional indicators albumin and total protein levels were compared. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the influencing
factors of lymphocytes and their subsets 1 month after radiotherapy. Result There was no significant difference in albumin and total
protein levels between the study group and control group 1 week before treatment and 1 month after the end of radiotherapy. At 1 month
after the end of radiotherapy the study group had higher levels of ALC and CD8
+
T cells than the control group. Similarly patients with
pathologic complete response pCR showed higher levels of ALC and CD8
+
T cells than patients with non-pCR. Different treatment
groups were identified as independent influencing factors for ALC and CD8
+
T cells 1 month after the end of radiotherapy. Conclusion
Compared to the neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy group intracavitary brachytherapy combined with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy can
increase the number of lymphocytes and CD8
+
T cells 1 month after radiotherapy improve immune function and do not increase the risk
of malnutrition in rectal adenocarcinoma patients.
