Progressive loss of anti-HER2 CD4⁺ T-helper type 1 response in breast tumorigenesis and the potential for immune restoration.

ABSTRACT: Genomic profiling has identified several molecular oncodrivers in breast tumorigenesis. A thorough understanding of endogenous immune responses to these oncodrivers may provide insights into immune interventions for breast cancer (BC). We investigated systemic anti-HER2/neu CD4⁺ T-helper type-1 (Th1) responses in HER2-driven breast tumorigenesis. A highly significant stepwise Th1 response loss extending from healthy donors (HD), through HER2^pos-DCIS, and ultimately to early stage HER2^pos-invasive BC patients was detected by IFNγ ELISPOT. The anti-HER2 Th1 deficit was not attributable to host-level T-cell anergy, loss of immune competence, or increase in immunosuppressive phenotypes (T_reg/MDSCs), but rather associated with a functional shif

SUBMITTER: Datta J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4589053 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature