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Human breast cancer and impaired NK cell function.
Journal of Surgical Oncology
|September 1, 1983
Summary
Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial for antitumor immunity. This study found significantly depressed NK cell activity in breast cancer patients, particularly those with advanced disease, highlighting their role in immune surveillance.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
Background:
- Natural killer (NK) cells are a type of lymphoid cell with antitumor activity.
- NK cells are believed to play a role in preventing tumor growth and metastasis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate Natural Killer (NK) cell activity in patients with benign and malignant breast disease.
- To determine the correlation between NK cell activity and breast cancer stage.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a chromium-51 release microtiter cytotoxicity assay.
- K562 cells were used as target cells to measure NK-mediated lysis.
Main Results:
- Patients with malignancies exhibited significantly depressed NK-mediated lysis compared to benign controls (P < 0.01).
- Advanced stage breast cancer (stages II-IV) showed significantly lower NK activity than stage I disease (P < 0.01).
- NK activity did not correlate with estrogen or progesterone receptor status.
Conclusions:
- Depressed NK cell activity is positively correlated with tumor spread in breast cancer.
- These findings support the role of NK cells in immune surveillance against breast cancer.
- NK cell activity is important in the context of this malignancy.