Abstract:Objective To investigate the influence of single brachytherapy hypofractionated radiotherapy (SBHFRT) and conventional fractionation radiotherapy (CFRT) on lymphocytes and cytokines in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods The NSCLC model mice were randomly divided into control group, conventional fractionation radiotherapy (CFRT) group and single brachytherapy hypofractionated radiotherapy (SBHFRT) group. The tumor volume of mice in each group and tumor growth inhibition rate (TGIR) of treatment groups were calculated on the 14th day after the end of treatment. The tumor metabolism was assessed by micro 18F-FDG PET-CT imaging. The Immunohistochemistry SP method was used to detect the expression of CD4+, CD8+ and Foxp3+ T lymphocytes in tumor tissues of the mice in each group and the content of interleukin-10 (IL-10), interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interferon-γ (INF-γ) in tumor tissues were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results The expressions of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in the SBHFRT group were higher than those in the CFRT group and the control group (P < 0.05), while the expression of Foxp3+ T lymphocytes in the SBHFRT group was lower than that in the CFRT group and the control group (P < 0.05). The contents of IL-12 and INF-γ in the SBHFRT group were higher than those in the CFRT group and the control group (P < 0.05), while the content of IL-10 in the SBHFRT group was lower than that in the CFRT group and the control group (P < 0.05). The tumor volume and standard uptake value (SUV) in the SBHFRT group were lower than those of the CFRT group and the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with the CFRT group, the TGIR of SBHFRT group was higher (P < 0.05). Conclusions Compared with CFRT, SBHFRT can increase the content of antitumor lymphocytes and cytokines to inhibit tumor growth and reduce tumor activity more significantly.