Downregulation of CD28 and TCR- zeta (ζ) in peripheral T-cells of breast cancer patients – a defect in immunosurveillance?

Aims: The concept of immunosurveillance is not effective in cancer patients. One reason for sup-pression of antitumor immunity can be attributed to functional impairment of T- lymphocytes which extends beyond the tumor microenvironment and can effect the body systemicly. This general immune dysfunction related to peripheral blood lymphocytes could open the “ door “ for tumor cell escape/dissemination via the blood stream. Methods: We analysed the peripheral blood immune status of 64 breast cancer patients characterized by their prognostic factors. The different lymphocytic subpopulations were stained by intracel…