Natural killer (NK) cell profiles in blood and tumour in women with large and locally advanced breast cancer (LLABC) and their contribution to a pathological complete response (PCR) in the tumour following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC): differential restoration of blood profiles by NAC and surgery

Table 4 NK (CD3⁻CD16⁺CD56^dim) granzyme B⁺/perforin⁺ cells in the blood of women with LLABCs (n = 16) undergoing NAC and subsequent surgery

Baseline (B) levels in LLABCs versus (v) completion of chemotherapy (CC) levels in different responders
Study group comparisons		NK granzyme B⁺/perforin (%)
Good pathological responders	B	40.60 ± 2.50
[Groups I and II]	CC	63.03 ± 10.00
(n = 9)	CC v B	P = 0.006**
Poor pathological responders	B	28.26 ± 5.00
[Groups III and IV]	CC	60.10 ± 16.00
(n = 7)	CC v B	P = 0.005**
Complete pathological responders	PCR	66.28 ± 6.00
[PCR] (n = 6)	HFDs	60.26 ± 2.50
Healthy female donors (HFDs) (n = 10)	PCR v HFDs	P = 0.105

Baseline (B) levels in LLABCs versus (v) post surgical resection (SR) levels in different responders
Study group comparisons		NK granzyme B⁺/perforin (%)
Good pathological responders	B	40.60 ± 6.50
[Groups I and II]	SR	44.17 ± 10.0
(n = 9)	SR v B	P = 0.156
Poor pathological responders	B	28.26 ± 5.00
[Groups III and IV]	SR	49.46 ± 10.0
(n = 7)	SR v B	P = 0.158
Complete pathological responders	PCR	47.50 ± 8.00
[PCR] (n = 6)	HFDs	60.26 ± 2.50
Healthy female donors (HFDs) (n = 10)	PCR v HFDs	P = 0.032*

LLABCs large (≥3 cm) and locally advanced breast cancers (T3–4 N1–2 M0), NAC neoadjuvant chemotherapy, HFDs healthy female donors.
* Values significantly reduced, ** values significantly increased.

ISSN: 1479-5876