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Familial occurrence of breast cancer is associated with reduced natural killer cytotoxicity

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Summary

A factor in the incidence of spontaneous neoplasms in mice is the endogenous level of natural cell-mediated cytotoxicity (1, 2). These immunosurveillant or host defense mechanisms are probably under the control of multiple gene products (3, 4) including interferons. We studied natural killer (NK) cytotoxicity using peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 59 normal individuals with either a high (17) or low (42) familial incidence of breast cancer. The K562 cell line was used as target in51Cr release assays. Three effector: target ratios (6.2 : 1, 25 : 1, and 50 : 1) were studied in quadruplicate using 3, 4 and 5-h incubations. Significantly lower natural killer activity (p<0.002) was detected in normal individuals with high familial incidences of breast cancer compared to individuals with low incidences in each of the three separate assays (50 : 1). The same conclusion was reached whether the data were expressed in terms of lytic units per 107 blood mononuclear cells or as % specific51Cr released. Thus, a relationship was observed between the occurrence of breast cancer in closely related family members and low natural cell-mediated cytotoxicity. This result suggests that defects in NK activity may play a role in the initiation of human breast tumors. However, prospective studies will be necessary to establish whether low NK cell activity is a risk factor for breast cancer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Barry Ashbee Leukemia Research Laboratories, Department of Hematology/Oncology, Hahnemann University, Broad and Vine Streets, 19102, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    David R. Strayer, William A. Carter & Isadore Brodsky

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  1. David R. Strayer
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  2. William A. Carter
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  3. Isadore Brodsky
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Strayer, D.R., Carter, W.A. & Brodsky, I. Familial occurrence of breast cancer is associated with reduced natural killer cytotoxicity. Breast Cancer Res Tr 7, 187–192 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01806249

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