Regulatory T- cells in ovarian cancer

The aim of the study was to investigate the regulatory T cells (Treg) in the patients with stage III-IV ovarian cancer (OC, n=10). It was revealed that the level of СD4-СD25- /СD4-СD25high Treg in OC patients was increased in ascites compared to that in peripheral blood. These data strongly suggest the directional traffic and accumulation of natural Treg in tumor microenvironment. The level of CD4-FOXP3- and CD8-FOXP3- cells was increased both in ascites and in peripheral blood of patients with OC. Our results indicate that expansion of these Treg subsets is more generalized. It was also shown, that patients with OC are characterized by marked (14-fold) decrease of CD8-Pfn-/CD4-FOXP3- ratio (0,4±0,1 vs 5,7±2,0 in healthy woman, pU