Changes of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in a long-term survivor with advanced renal cell carcinoma

We present the case of an 11-year survivor with advanced renal cell carcinoma (T4N2M1). This patient received long-term interferon-alpha (IFN-α)-based immunotherapy. Measurement of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets suggested that reduction of the IFN-α dose might be associated with a marked increase of cytotoxic T cells, suppressor T cells, activated suppressor/cytotoxic T cells, and natural killer cells among the peripheral blood lymphocytes.