Human breast cancer cells enhance self tolerance by promoting evasion from NK cell antitumor immunity

NK cells are a major component of the antitumor immune response and are involved in controlling tumor progression and metastases in animal models. Here, we show that dysfunction of these cells accompanies human breast tumor progression. We characterized human peripheral blood NK (p-NK) cells and malignant mammary tumor-infiltrating NK (Ti-NK) cells from patients with noninvasive and invasive breast cancers. NK cells isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy donors and normal breast tissue were used as controls. With disease progression, we found that expression of activating NK cell receptors (such as NKp30, NKG2D, DNAM-1, and CD16) decreased while expression of inhibitory receptors (such as NKG2A)…

• AN
  Agence Nationale de la Recherche
• IN
  Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale
• AI
  Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro
• IN
  Institut National Du Cancer