Prognostic impact of the expression of NK cell receptor NCR3, CD28 and PD-1 molecular on T cell in peripheral blood of advanced breast cancer patients undergoing paclitaxel chemotherapy

Background The main goals of treatment for advanced breast cancer were to prolong survival and improve quality of life. Paclitaxel is a commonly used chemotherapy drug for advanced breast cancer. The occurrence and development of tumors largely depend on the functional state of the immune system. NK cells and T cells are the two main cell subsets who play a key role in tumor immune surveillance and anti-tumor. Their functions mainly depend on the expression of receptors on their surface. This study mainly investigated the correlation between the expression levels of NK cell activating receptors and CD28 and PD-1 molecules on T cells in peripheral blood with prognosis in patients with advanced breast cancer undergoing paclitaxel chemotherapy. Methods Peripheral blood was detected by flow cytometry for immunophenotype and PCR technology for detection of NCR transcripts from 53 patients with advanced breast cancer. To compare the differences in immunophenotype and NCR3 transcripts among breast cancer patients with different molecular types. The correlation between immunophenotype and NCR3 splice isomer expression with tumor load, chemotherapy sensitivity to paclitaxel and survival were further analyzed. Results The ratio of CD28+/CD28− T cells and NCR3 transcript expression in peripheral blood of triple-negative breast cancer patients was higher than that of patients in other groups. Elevation of NCR3 transcripts mainly inhibits NKp30c. NKp30 on NK cells, NCR3 transcripts, the proportion of CD4+CD28− T cells and PD-1 on T cells were positively correlated with tumor burden in patients. The proportion of CD4+CD28+ T cells was negatively correlated with the tumor burden in patients. After paclitaxel chemotherapy, patients with high expression of CD28 and low expression of PD-1 on T cells before paclitaxel chemotherapy were more sensitive to chemotherapy; patients with low expression level of NKp30 inhibitory splice isomer in NK cells and high ratio of CD28+/PD-1+ T cells before paclitaxel chemotherapy had better PFS. Conclusion The expression of NCR3 in NK cells and the expression of CD28 and PD-1 molecules on T cells can be used as potential biomarkers for evaluating tumor progression, chemotherapy effect and prognosis in patients with advanced breast cancer.