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Changes in peripheral immune cells after intraoperative radiation therapy in low-risk breast cancer

# metadata.dc.description.abstract[].value
A detailed understanding of the interactions and the best dose-fractionation scheme of radiation to maximize antitumor immunity have not been fully established. In this study, the effect on the host immune system of a single dose of 20 Gy through intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) on the surgical bed in low-risk breast cancer patients undergoing conserving breast cancer has been assessed. Peripheral blood samples from 13 patients were collected preoperatively and at 48 h and 3 and 10 weeks after the administration of radiation. We performed a flow cytometry analysis for lymphocyte subpopulations, natural killer cells (NK), regulatory T cells (Treg) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). We observed that the subpopulation of NK CD56+high CD16+ increased significantly at 3 weeks after IORT (0.30-0.42%, P < 0.001), while no changes were found in immunosuppressive profile, CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Helios+ Treg cells, granulocytic MDSCs (G-MDSCs) and monocytic MDSCs (Mo-MDSCs). A single dose of IORT may be an effective approach to improve antitumor immunity based on the increase in NK cells and the non-stimulation of immunosuppressive cells involved in immune escape. These findings support future combinations of IORT with immunotherapy, if they are confirmed in a large cohort of breast cancer patients.

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Journal of Radiation Research, 2021, vol. 62, num. 1, p. 110-118

# metadata.dc.rights[].value
cc-by (c) Linares Galiana, Isabel et al., 2021

# metadata.dc.source[].value
Articles publicats en revistes (Ciències Clíniques)

# metadata.dc.title[].value
Changes in peripheral immune cells after intraoperative radiation therapy in low-risk breast cancer