Programmed Cell Death Protein-1 Predicts the Recurrence of Breast Cancer in Patients Subjected to Radiotherapy After Breast-Preserving Surgery

• Published in: Technology in cancer research & treatment Vol. 17; p. 1533033818793425
• Main Authors: Huang, Ruyi, Cui, Yiyao, Guo, Yujiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-01-2018; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Apoptosis; Breast cancer; Cell death; Lymphocytes; Mastectomy; Original; Proteins; Radiation therapy; Surgery; recurrence; radiotherapy; breast cancer; immune; PD-1
• ISSN: 1533-0346; 1533-0338
• DOI: 10.1177/1533033818793425

Radiotherapy is the most important component of the comprehensive treatment of breast cancer, and immunocompromised patients respond with lower response rate. However, the role of programmed cell death protein-1, a critical immune molecule, in recurrence of breast cancer subjected to radiotherapy is unknown. A retrospective analysis was designed to explore the relevance. A number of 42 patients with early-stage breast cancer undergoing breast-conserving surgery and postoperative radiotherapy (18 recurrence and 24 nonrecurrence) were recruited, and clinical data were obtained. Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect programmed cell death protein-1, and Kaplan-Meier curves were used to analyze recurrence-free survival. The expression of programmed cell death protein-1 was higher in the recurrence group than recurrence-free group (P < .05). Meanwhile, the recurrence-free mean survival was significantly longer in programmed cell death protein-1 low-expression group (68 months) than that in programmed cell death protein-1 high-expression group (56 months). In addition, the levels of T lymphocytes were obviously lower in patients with breast cancer than healthy group, and natural killer showed an opposite tendency. CD4+ decreased significantly after 1 week radiotherapy and recovered rapidly 3 weeks after radiotherapy. Compared to recurrence-free group, the increment of T lymphocytes were inadequate in recurrence group. These experimental results indicated that the expression of programmed cell death protein-1 in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes is related to immune disorder and recurrence of patients undergoing breast-preserving surgery and radiotherapy.