β Scribed by Warren L. Garner; John P. Minton; Arthur G. James; C. C. Hoffmann
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
Recent advances in tumor immunology have led to the discovery of a new lymphoid cell with unique antitumor activity. Natural killer (NK) cells form an antitumor surveillance system and appear to be vital in preventing tumor growth and metastasis in animal models. We studied NK activity in patients with benign and malignant breast disease, using a chromiumβ51 release microtiter cytotoxicity assay with K562 cells as targets. Compared with benign controls, patients with malignancies had significantly depressed NKβmediated lysis (P < 0.01). Furthermore, lysis in those with advanced disease (stages II, III, and IV) was significantly less than in those with limited disease (stage I) (P < 0.01). NK activity was not correlated to estrogen or progesterone receptor states. Positive correlation of a depressed natural killer activity with the extent of tumor spread supports the concept of an NK cell immune surveillance system in breast cancer and emphasizes its importance in this malignancy.
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Cell kinetic parameters were determined in 32 patients with breast cancer following intravenous [3H]thymidine injection. The mean labelling index (LI) was 8.6, range 1.2 to 24.1. The LI increased significantly with increased stage of disease. The highest values were noted in patients with chest wall
## Abstract Paracellular permeability (PCP) is governed by tight junctions (TJs) in epithelial cells, acting as cellβcell adhesion structures, the aberration of which is known to be linked to the dissociation and metastasis of breast cancer cells. This study hypothesized that the function of TJs in