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Immune characteristics and clinical significance of peripheral blood lymphocytes in breast cancer

Authors :
Hongyu Gao
Dengjie Ouyang
Xinyu Guan
Jiachi Xu
Qitong Chen
Liyun Zeng
Jian Pang
Qiongyan Zou
Ke Qian
Wenjun Yi
Source :
BMC Cancer, Vol 24, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
BMC, 2024.

Abstract

Abstract Background In the context of breast cancer (BC), the correlation between lymphocytes and clinical outcomes, along with treatment response, has garnered attention. Despite this, few investigations have delved into the interplay among distinct peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) types, immune attributes, and their clinical implications within the BC landscape. Methods The primary objective of this study was to scrutinize the baseline status of PBL subsets in patients with primary BC, track their dynamic changes throughout treatment, and ascertain their interrelation with prognosis. Flow cytometry was employed to analyse PBLs from a cohort of 74 BC patients. Results Our analysis revealed that baseline levels of Treg and PD-L1 + T cells were lower in BC patients compared to the reference values. Notably, a disparity in baseline PD-L1 + T cell levels surfaced between patients who underwent adjuvant therapy and those subjected to neoadjuvant therapy (NAT). Furthermore, a meticulous evaluation of PBL subsets before and after treatment underscored discernible alterations in 324 + T cells and CD19 + CD32 + B cells over the course of therapy. Strikingly, heightened CD4 + T cell levels at baseline were linked to enhanced event-free survival (EFS) (p = 0.02) and a robust response to chemotherapy. Conclusions These results indicate that PBLs may serve as a significant marker to assess the immune status of BC patients, and therapy has the potential to modify patient immune profiles. In addition, peripheral blood CD4 + T cell levels may serve as promising biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis in future studies of BC.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
14712407
Volume :
24
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
BMC Cancer
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.fb418acfcf94f748721cb01ba69a226
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-024-11815-8