Circulating Tumor Cells (CTC) Are Associated with Defects in Adaptive Immunity in Patients with Inflammatory Breast...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Breast Cancer Research

Background:

• Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are key indicators of tumor spread and prognosis in breast cancer.
• Peripheral blood immune cells can create an environment that hinders CTC survival.
• Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) presents unique challenges in understanding tumor dissemination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and T-cell immune profiles in patients with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC).
• To determine if T-cell immunophenotypes and functions correlate with CTC presence and clinical outcomes in IBC.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 65 IBC patients at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
• Enumeration of CTCs using CellSearch® and assessment of T-cell phenotype/function via flow cytometry on peripheral blood samples.
• Correlation of CTC counts with T-cell data and clinical outcomes prior to chemotherapy initiation.

Main Results:

• CTCs were detected in 61.5% of patients (≥1 CTC) and 32.3% (≥5 CTCs).
• Patients with CTCs exhibited lower percentages of CD3+ and CD4+ T cells, reduced T-cell receptor (TCR)-activated CD8+ T cells producing TNF-α and IFN-γ, and higher T-regulatory cells compared to those without CTCs.
• Multivariate analysis linked CTC presence to tumor grade, stage, and specific T-cell percentages (CD3+, CD4+, TCR-activated CD8+ T cells).

Conclusions:

• Patients with IBC and detectable CTCs show significant abnormalities in adaptive immunity.
• These immune alterations may play a role in promoting tumor cell dissemination and the metastatic cascade.