Cell mediated immunity in patients with stage ii-iv colorectal cancer with or without circulating tumor cells

Nowadays, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are considered to be one of the most important mechanisms of tumor dissemination. Detection of CTCs in patients' blood is estimated as a prognostic factor for various tumors including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, CTCs may also be a source of tumor antigens capable of inducing both immune response and tolerance and participating in «immmunoediting». The aim of the study was to assess the parameters of cell-mediated immunity in patients with stage IIIV CRC with respect to the presence or absence of CTCs. Materials and Methods. We studied the parameters of cell-mediated immunity in 60 patients with stage IIIV CRC with respect to the presence or absence of CTCs. Before treatment, we evaluated the CTC levels in patients' blood using CellSearch System™ and lymphocyte subsets: T-B-NI