Abstract: Operation and chemotherapy can reduce the tumor burden, however systematical chemotherapy induces lymphocytopenia. So conventional idea consider chemotherapy may inhibit immunologic function, which furthermore interfere with sequential immunotherapy. But some great breakthroughs have been archived by recent research which proves evidence that systematical chemotherapy can improve anti-tumor immune function through multiple mechanisms while companying temporary lymphocytopenia and synergistic antitumor activity of chemotherapy with immunotherapy has been investigated. These findings open a novel field of investigations for future clinical trial design, taking into account the immunostimulatory capacity of chemotherapeutic agents, and using them in combined chemo-immunotherapy strategies.

Key words: Chemotherapy, Immune function, Immunotherapy, Cancer