Clinical significance of changes in peripheral lymphocyte count after surgery in early cervical cancer

ObjectiveImmune competence is an important prognostic factor in cancer patients. Surgical management of cancer can cause a variety of immunological disturbances, the clinical consequences of which are still unclear.Materials and methodsPatients with clinically staged cervical carcinoma (IB to IIA) who were treated at Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea from 1994 to 2007 were retrospectively enrolled. We compared peri-operative peripheral lymphocyte counts, tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte scores, and survival in patients with early cervical cancer treated by abdominal type III radical hysterectomy.ResultsThe sample included 756 patients. The median follow-up was 58 months with a range of 3–181 months. There was a positive correlation between pre-operative peripheral lymphocyte counts and tumor infiltrating lymphocyte score. Pre-operative peripheral lymphocyte counts decreased significantly after surgery. In multivariate analyses for recurrence, higher pre-operative peripheral lymphocyte counts and recovery of lymphocyte counts (more than 100/μL from the pre-operative level) on post-operative day 3 were independent positive prognostic factors and LN metastasis was negatively associated with post-operative recovery of peripheral lymphocyte counts.ConclusionPeripheral lymphocyte counts after cervical cancer surgery are important prognostic factors, and management aimed at minimizing immune disturbances after surgery should be assessed, especially in patients with LN metastasis.

► Peripheral lymphocyte counts decreased after surgery in cervical cancer patients.
► Cervical cancer patients with increased peripheral lymphocyte counts after surgery showed improved disease-free survival.