OBJECTIVETo compare the effect of laparoscopic radical operation and open operation on systemic immunity in patients with colorectal cancer.

METHODSSixty patients with colorectal cancer were randomly divided into laparoscopic and open operation groups from March 2004 to December 2004, each group had 30 cases. CRP, IgA, IgM, IgG, CD3 (+) cells, CD4 (+) cells, CD8 (+) cells, NK cells, CD4 (+) CD5RA (+) cells, CD4 (+) CD45RO (+) cells and lymphocytes in peripheral blood were counted and compared on the 1st day before operation, 3rd and 7th day after operation.

RESULTSThe two groups were comparable as for age, tumor location and stages. In open operation group, lymphocyte counts were (1.09+/- 0.29) x 10(9)/L, CD4 (+) cell (0.54 +/- 0.14) x 10(9)/L, CD8 (+) cell (0.31 +/- 0.08) x 10(9)/L, CD4 (+) CD45RO (+) (61.1+/- 8.9)%, and IgM level (136.9+/- 52.8) IU/ml, IgG (115.2 +/- 45.7) IU/ml on the 3rd day after operation, CD8 (+) cell counts were (0.32 +/- 0.09) x 10 (9)/L, CD4 (+) CD45RO (+) cell (63.2 +/- 9.1)% on the 7th day after operation, were all significantly lower than those on the 1st day before operation respectively(P< 0.05, P< 0.01). In laparoscopic operation group, the decreases of such parameters except CD4 (+) CD45RO (+) cell (62.7 +/- 12.5)% were not obvious on the 3rd day after operation. There were significant difference in lymphocyte counts (1.29 +/- 0.37) x 10( 9 )/L, IgM (164.5 +/- 48.2) IU/ml and CD8 (+) cell counts (0.38 +/- 0.09) x 10 (9) /L on the 3rd day after operation between two groups (P< 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCompared with open radical operation, laparoscopic radical operation has predominance in protecting systemic immunity to treat colorectal carcinoma.