Change in peripheral blood lymphocyte count in dogs following adoptive immunotherapy using lymphokine-activated T killer cells combined with palliative tumor resection.

•Change in peripheral blood lymphocytes in dogs following adoptive immunotherapy using lymphokine-activated T killer cells in combination with surgery was evaluated.•A single administration of lymphokine-activated T killer cells combined with surgery may increase peripheral blood T lymphocytes, particularly CD8+ cells, in tumor-bearing dogs.•The sequential administration of lymphokine-activated T killer cells combined with surgery may keep increased count of peripheral blood CD8+ cells in tumor-bearing dogs.