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Table 4 Cytokine profiles generated in vitro by T Cells from patients with LLABCs undergoing NAC and surgery

From: Abnormal T regulatory cells (Tregs: FOXP3+, CTLA-4+), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs: monocytic, granulocytic) and polarised T helper cell profiles (Th1, Th2, Th17) in women with large and locally advanced breast cancers undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and surgery: failure of abolition of abnormal treg profile with treatment and correlation of treg levels with pathological response to NAC

Th1*(pg/ml)

Responders to NAC

LLABCs: Baseline Levels (n = 30)

HFDs (n = 8)

Th2** (pg/ml)

Responders to NAC

LLABCs: Baseline Levels (n = 30)

HFDs (n = 8)

IL-1β

GR ***

32.50 ± 10.00 (8 fold reduction) (P = 0.002)

260.00 ± 110.00

IL-4

GR

195.64 ± 5.68 (12 fold increase) (P = 0.001)

16.00 ± 9.00

 

PR ***

3.33 ± 0.78 (78 fold reduction)(P = 0.001)

  

PR

197.50 ± 7.50 (12 fold increase) (P = 0.001)

 

IL-2

GR

702.57 ± 240.00 (2 fold reduction) (P = 0.004)

1400.00 ± 400.00

IL-5

GR

156.12 ± 19.89 (6 fold increase) (P = 0.004)

26.93 ± 8.00

 

PR

293.33 ± 29.63 (5 fold reduction) (P = 0.001)

  

PR

602.24 ± 78.58 (24 fold increase)(P = 0.004)

 
  

reduction) (P = 0.001)

     

INF-γ

GR

144.76 ± 16.76 (12 fold reduction) (P = 0.009)

1874.89 ± 156.15

IL-10

GR

34.42 ± 36.84 (1.7 fold increase) (NS)

20.00 ± 8.00

 

PR

78.54 ± 21.42 (24 fold reduction) (P = 0.002)

  

PR

30.00 ± 6.52 (1.5 fold increase) (NS)

 

TNF-α

GR

168.78 ± 12.36 (1.3 fold reduction) (P = 0.006)

224.30 ±35.00

Th17*** (pg/ml)

Responders to NAC

LLABCs: Baseline Levels (n = 30)

HFDs (n = 8)

 

PR

7.71 ± 3.83 (29 fold reduction) (P = 0.001)

 

IL-17A FOXP3 - )

GR

1.95 ± 0.25 2.8 fold increase) P = 0.003)

0.70 ± 0.25

     

PR

3.80 ± 0.80 5.4 fold increase) (P = 0.001)

 
    

IL-17A (FOXP3 + )

GR

0.04 ± 0.02 (3.8 fold increase) (P = 0.023)

0.01 ± 0.01

     

PR

0.05 ± 0.01 (5 fold increase) (P = 0.018)

 
  1. *Th1: TNF-β showed no significant changes; **Th2: IL-6 showed no significant changes; *** GR: Good clinical responders (n = 20), PR: Poor clinical responders (n = 10); Responses determined by MRM assessment of the breast following the first two cycles of AC, as part of an eight cycle course of NAC – two or four cycles of AC, followed by six or four cycles of T ± Cap, respectively. **** Th IL-17 ± FOXP3+ cells were characterised by FACS analysis.