Figure 1

Blood NK cell cytotoxicity (apoptosis and necrosis of K562 cells—see “Patients and methods” for further details) elicited by BMCs from women with LLABCs, prior to NAC, and HFDs. Differential cytotoxicity documented depending on the subsequent pathological response elicited in the breast cancers after NAC. [Groups I and II (good responders): 37.8 ± 8.50%; Groups III and IV (poor responders): 22.8 ± 7.97%; HFDs 69.7 ± 10.0%]. There is a significant and graduated reduction of NK cell cytotoxicity in the different groups of responders to NAC (Groups I and II versus Groups III and IV [p = 0.017]). The most substantial reduction, compared with HFDs, was seen in poor responders (Groups III and IV) (p = 0.001). Spontaneous cytotoxicity in the assays was ≤4%. SPSS (version 19.0) used for data analysis and calculation of independent sample t tests for statistical significance.