Short-term prognostic role of peripheral lymphocyte subsets in patients with gastric cancer

•Peripheral lymphocyte subsets were important markers for immune function evaluation.•Immunity impaired may be associated with postoperative relapse in gastric cancer.•Preoperative low T cell count was associated with shorter recurrence-free survival.•High levels of regulatory T cell are associated with worse recurrence-free survival.•Immune enhance treatment may have potential benefit in patients with gastric cancer.