Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2026
07:20
Ex vivo Expansion of Tumor-reactive T Cells by Means of Bryostatin 1/Ionomycin and the Common Gamma Chain Cytokines Formulation
Published on: January 14, 2011
14.7K
Interferon-Gamma Secretion Is Significantly Decreased in Stage III Breast Cancer Patients
Jung Im Yi1, Jean Schneider2, Seung Taek Lim1
1Department of Surgery, The Catholic University of Korea St. Vincent's Hospital, Suwon 16247, Republic of Korea.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|April 27, 2024
Summary
Peripheral natural killer (NK) cell activity, measured by interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) secretion, is linked to breast cancer stage and body mass index. Lower NK cell activity may indicate higher risk in invasive breast cancer patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Limited research exists on the clinical relevance of peripheral natural killer (NK) cell activity in female invasive breast cancer patients at diagnosis.
- Previous studies suggest a potential link between tumor-infiltrating NK cells and molecular subtypes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical relevance of peripheral NK cell activity, specifically interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) secretion, in female invasive breast cancer patients at diagnosis.
- To explore the relationship between NK cell activity and clinicopathological parameters, including tumor stage, lymph node metastasis, and body mass index (BMI).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 396 female invasive breast cancer patients who underwent curative surgical treatment.
- Measurement of peripheral NK cell activity via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to quantify IFN-γ secretion.
- Statistical analyses, including univariate analysis, binary subgroup analysis with different IFN-γ secretion cut-offs (100 pg/mL and 250 pg/mL), and ANOVA post hoc tests (Bonferroni), were performed to assess correlations with clinicopathological parameters.
Main Results:
- Peripheral NK cell activity (IFN-γ secretion) showed significant relevance with tumor staging and body mass index (BMI).
- Lower IFN-γ secretion (<100 pg/mL) was associated with advanced stage III disease, axillary lymph node positivity, increased N stage, and higher BMI.
- A lower level of IFN-γ secretion correlated with increased BMI and was more pronounced in patients with axillary lymph node positivity and poor prognostic factors like elevated Neutrophil/Lymphocyte (N/L) and Platelet/Lymphocyte (P/L) ratios.
Conclusions:
- Peripheral NK cell activity, indicated by IFN-γ secretion, is clinically relevant in invasive breast cancer patients.
- A peripheral IFN-γ secretion test may serve as a convenient and useful tool for pretreatment risk assessment in high-risk invasive breast cancer patients.
- This assay could aid in identifying patients who may benefit from further treatments, such as immunotherapy.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Receptor Downregulation in MVBs
Multivesicular bodies (MVBs) are mature endosomes that sort ubiquitinated proteins and then fuse with lysosomes to degrade the sorted proteins. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR) form a complex that can be internalized through endocytosis, sorted into an MVB, and later degraded.
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive EGFR activation may...
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive EGFR activation may...
01:30Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis
Protein synthesis is indispensable for viral replication, as viruses lack the cellular machinery required for this process and must hijack the host's translational apparatus. In response, host cells deploy a critical innate immune defense involving interferons, specialized cytokines that play a central role in inhibiting viral propagation.Upon viral detection, infected cells release interferons that bind to receptors on adjacent uninfected cells, activating the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and...