Immune-modulating effect of korean red ginseng by balancing the ratio of peripheral T lymphocytes in bile duct or pancreatic cancer patients with adjuvant chemotherapy

Background/Aim: We aimed to clarify the clinical effect of Korean Red ginseng administered with adjuvant chemotherapy on the immune function of patients with bile duct or pancreatic cancer. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective, randomized controlled trial conducted at a single tertiary center. Twenty-six consecutive patients who underwent curative resection for bile duct or pancreatic cancer followed by 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin or gemcitabine chemotherapy were included. They were randomized 1:1 to the ginseng and control groups. Immune and inflammatory markers were assayed in peripheral blood samples during and after chemotherapy. Results: Intergroup differences in immune-related parameters before and during chemotherapy were not significant. After chemotherapy, the percentage of CD4⁺T lymphocytes was significantly higher in the ginseng group than in the control group (42.01% vs. 33.69%, p=0.048). The ratio of CD4⁺/CD8⁺T lymphocytes was also higher in the ginseng group (2.03 vs. 1.28, p=0.027). Neutropenia and liver dysfunction prevalence did not differ between the groups. Conclusion: The ginseng group, which received Korean Red ginseng daily during adjuvant chemotherapy, showed higher levels of CD4⁺T lymphocytes and CD4⁺/CD8⁺T lymphocyte ratio after chemotherapy.