Objective  To study the relationship of lymphocyte subsets with prognosis and clinico-pathologic features in lung cancer patients.

  Methods  Flow cytometry was used to analyze the distribution of T-lymphocyte subsets and natural killer cells in the peripheral blood of lung cancer patients, patients with benign pulmonary diseases, and healthy controls. The peripheral-blood lymphocyte levels of the subjects were compared. Clinical data obtained from 102 lung cancer cases were reviewed retrospectively, and the relationship of lymphocyte subsets with prognosis and clinico-pathologic features was analyzed.

  Results  The level of CD4⁺T cells was lower in the peripheral blood of lung cancer patients than that of the healthy controls (P < 0.05); however, the level of CD8⁺T cells was higher in lung cancer patients than in the healthy controls (P < 0.05). Univariate analysis revealed that T-lymphocyte subsets and natural killer cells were not influential factors in the overall survival of lung cancer patients (P>0.05). However, the abnormal distribution of lymphocyte subsets was related to lymphatic metastasis, TNM stage, and tumorigenesis P < 0.05).

  Conclusion  The distribution of T-lymphocyte subsets and natural killer cells was abnormal in the peripheral blood of lung cancer patients, and the dynamic changes in distribution can help assess the immune functions of lung cancer patients. Cellular immune function can act as a prognostic indicator in lung cancer patients.