Association of NKT- and activated CD25+ peripheral blood lymphocytes with disease free and overall survival of triple negative breast cancer patients

Background. We previously found that a decrease in the number of NKT cells and activated CD25+ peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) before neoadjuvant chemotherapy was associated with an increased likelihood of disease progression in patients with locally advanced triple-negative breast cancer (TN BC). The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the initial number of NKT-and CD25+ PBLs and relapse-free survival (RFS)/overall survival (OS) in patients with TN BC who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin and paclitaxel followed by surgery. Material and Methods. The study included patients with stage II and III TN BC. The follow-up time was 36 and 66.9 months. Immediately before chemotherapy, the percentage of CD3+CD16+CD56+ (NKT) -, CD25+- and CD8+ PBLs was determined by flow cytometry. Statistical analysis of the data was carried out using the Statistics 7 software package. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to determine the relationship between immunological parameters and RFS/ OS. Results. The decreased level of NKT cells before treatment was associated with a decrease in the 3-year RFS [Me: 20.1 (0.533 and 39.7) months] compared to that observed in patients with higher percentage of these cells than in the control (Me was not achieved). There were no statistically significant differences in the 3-year OS between the groups. The initially reduced number of CD25+ lymphocytes in comparison with the control was associated with decreased rates of both RFS and OS. The difference in DFS and OS was more significant between the groups of patients who simultaneously had an increased initial number of both NKT and CD25+ cells and patients in whom both cell populations were below normal levels. Conclusion. The initial (prior to chemotherapy) number of NKT and activated CD25+ PBLs can apparently be a predictive factor in TN BC patients, who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin and paclitaxel.