The immune modulation effects of gemcitabine plus cisplatin induction chemotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Background Studies are trying to add immunotherapy to gemcitabine and cisplatin (GP) induction chemotherapy, the standard therapy, in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients with locoregionally advanced disease. However, how the immune system responds to GP remains unknown. Method We examined the dynamic changes of circulating immune cells and plasma cytokines in NPC patients administered with GP. Result After GP administration, immunosuppressive myeloid cells, including CD11b+CD14+ monocytes, CD33+ myeloid cells, CD33+CD11+ myeloid cells, total MDSCs (CD33+CD11+HLA-DR-/low), monocytic MDSCs, and granulocytic MDSCs decreased significantly. The regulatory T cells and B cells, two important suppressive lymphocyte subpopulations, also decreased. On the other hand, the levels of CD3+ T cells, total B cells, central memory CD4+ T cells, and pro-inflammatory cytokines (including Interleukin [IL]-1 beta, IL-6, IL-2, IL-5, and IL-8) increased significantly after GP administration. Besides, GP chemotherapy did not weaken the cytotoxic activity and proliferative capacity of T cells. Conclusion Our results showed the immune modulation effect of GP induction chemotherapy in locoregionally advanced NPC, providing a solid basis for its combination with immunotherapy.