Unfavorable clinical implications of circulating CD44+ lymphocytes in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma undergoing radiochemotherapy

► Significantly alterations of cellular immunity in NPC as compared with healthy group. ► Radiochemotherapy result in immunologic changes excepting CD3+ or CD25+ lymphocyte. ► Elevated CD44+ lymphocytes demonstrate lower DFS in NPC undergoing radiochemotherapy. ► CD44+ lymphocyte is a promising independent predictor of survival for NPC patients.