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Sentinel Lymph Node Analysis in Patients With Breast Cancer Revealed Alterations in T Cells Subset
Maria Eduarda Cunha-Silva1,2, Laura Otto Walter1,2, Daniella Serafin Couto Vieira3
1Experimental Oncology and Hemopathies Laboratory, Clinical Analysis Department, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil.
Journal of Breast Cancer
|April 1, 2026
Summary
Immune cell changes in breast cancer sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) correlate with disease characteristics. Lymphovascular invasion and higher tumor grade impact T-cell populations and immune checkpoint expression in SLNs.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) are critical for breast cancer immune response.
- Limited data exists on immune cell subsets within SLNs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore immune cell populations in SLNs from invasive breast cancer patients.
- To correlate immune cell distribution with clinicopathological features.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry analysis of SLN cells from 22 invasive breast cancer patients.
- Comparison of immune cell frequencies with tumor subtype, axillary status, lymphovascular invasion, grade, ER, and HER2 status.
Main Results:
- No significant correlation found for monocytes and neutrophils.
- Lymphovascular invasion linked to increased CD4+ T cells and PD-1 on CD8+ T cells.
- Histological grade III showed reduced CD4+ central memory and increased terminal effector memory T cells.
- ER/HER2 positive patients had increased PD-1 and PD-L1 on CD8+ T cells.
Conclusions:
- SLN immune cell profiles vary with breast cancer clinicopathological features.
- Findings are preliminary, highlighting the need for larger studies on tumor-draining lymph node immunity.
