Effects of the triple therapy on immune function and inflammatory cytokines of breast cancer patients with postoperative upper limb edema

BAO Yanhong; LI Wei; LI Qing

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-7386.2018.14.010

Abstract：Objective To observe the effects of the triple therapy ( external application of Lishi stagnant needle combined with blood-letting puncture and oral medicinal herbs ) on immune function and inflammatory cytokines of breast cancer patients with postoperative upper limb edema. Methods A total of 130 breast cancer patients with postoperative upper limb edema were randomly divided into control group (n=65) and observation group (n=65). The patients in control group were treated with blood-letting puncture and oral medicinal herbs while the patients in observation group were treated with Li lag needle based on the control group. After three months of treatment, the upper limb function scores were compared between the two groups to evaluate the function of their upper limb. In addition, flow cytometry was used to measure the percentages of CD+3 T, CD+4 T, CD+8 Tcells and CD+4/CD+8. Moreover, the expression levels of IL-6, TNF-α, CRP and IL-10 mRNA were detected by Real time PCR and ELISA, respectively. Results The total effective rate in observation group was significantly higher than that of control group(P<0. 05). After 3-month treatment, the UEFI scores, CD+3, CD+4, CD+4/CD+8 and the expression levels of IL-10 mRNA and proteins were significantly incresased in both groups (P<0. 05),however, the CD+8 and the expression levels of IL-6, TNF-α, CRP mRNA and proteins were significantly decreased (P<0. 05). In addition, there were significant difference in index changes between the two groups (P <0. 05). Conclusion The triple therapy can effectively promote the functional recovery of the upper limb of the patients, improve the immune function and inhibit the release of inflammatory cytokines.