High expression of the checkpoint molecule PD-1 on regulatory and helper CD4+ T cells in metastatic breast cancer patients with poor prognosis | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Cancer and Biomedical Research | ||
| Article 9, Volume 4, Issue 1 - Serial Number 5, April 2020, Pages 69-77 PDF (1.67 M) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/jcbr.2020.22585.1010 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Mohamed Ahmed Esmail* 1; Mohamed Attia2; Sameh R Abd-Alaziz3; Sabry El-Naggar4; Mohamed Labib Salem5 | ||
| 1Zoology Department, Faculty of science, Tanta university, Tanta, Egypt | ||
| 2Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt. | ||
| 3Department of Oncology Surgery, Oncology Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt | ||
| 4Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt | ||
| 5Immunology and Biotechnology Division, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Egypt | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Recurrence and metastasis are common in patients of breast cancer even after chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This recurrence may occur due to the emergence of immunoregulatory T (Treg) cells and the immune checkpoint molecules such as programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) which are known to suppress anti-tumor immunity. Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the numbers of Treg cells and the expression of PD-1 molecule on T cells in the peripheral blood of breast cancer patients at different stages (II, III, and IV) compared to healthy individuals. Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from early diagnosed metastatic cancer patients before surgery. Leucocytes were stained with different antibodies including CD4, CD25, CD127, and PD1, and then were analyzed by multiparametric flow cytometry. Results: The results showed that the relative and absolute numbers of Treg cells were significantly increased in breast cancer patients. Interestingly, we found a correlation between the numbers and cancer progression from stages II to III and IV, as compared with healthy individuals. Furthermore, significant increases in PD-1 expression were observed on Treg cells and CD4+ T cells in cancer patients as compared to healthy controls. This profile of PD-1 expression was also correlated with the poor prognosis of the patients. Conclusion: The results provide a better understanding of the immunomodulatory role of Treg cells and PD-1 expression in breast cancer patients who are the target for immunotherapy using checkpoint inhibitors. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Breast Cancer, CD4+ T cells, T regulatory cells; Checkpoint molecules; Programmed cell death protein; PD-1, Flow cytometry | ||
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