CELL INTELLIGENCE · 肿瘤细胞治疗研究

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the effect of -3 fatty acid immunonutritional therapy on natural killer (NK) cell gene methylation and function in elderly patients with gastric cancer. METHODS: A total of 70 cases of elderly patients with gastric cancer were randomized into the -3 fatty acid group and placebo group, according to the type of nutritional support administered. The methylation status of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- gene promoter in peripheral NK cells was detected by methylation specific polymerase chain reaction, and the TNF- level in peripheral NK cells was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: After 14 days of immunonutritional therapy with -3 fatty acid or placebo, patients in the -3 group had significantly higher average NK cell activity (0.27 vs. 0.24, P=0.013) and lower percentages of TNF- gene promoter methylation (25.7% vs. 60%, P<0.05) than the placebo group. However, there were no significant differences in the concentration of albumin, prealbumin and TNF- in serum, and the NK cell count between the -3 group and placebo group. CONCLUSION: The postoperative application of -3 fatty acid may improve the activity of NK cells, which is correlated to the methylation status of the TNF- gene promoter.