title: Influence of neoadjuvant polychemotherapy on natural killer cell activity in patients with locally advanced cervical squamous carcinoma.
abstract: Peripheral blood natural killer (NK) cell activity against K562 tumor line was monitored in 16 patients with locally advanced squamous cervical carcinoma (II and III FIGO stages) during neoadjuvant polychemotherapy (cisplatin at 80 mg/m2 and bleomycin at 30 mg/m2). There was a significant progressive decrease in NK activity during the three cycles of antiblastic treatment (P = 0.008) without significant depletion of NK cell (CD56 and CD16 monoclonal antibody positive cell percentage and absolute number). A significant relationship was shown between basal NK activity levels and response to polychemotherapy; in fact, nonresponder patients had a significantly lower mean value of NK activity before polychemotherapy than responders (P = 0.044). In conclusion, NK activity declines as a result of antiblastic therapy; although polychemotherapy reduces tumor spread, its antineoplastic action may be affected by this decreased immune reactivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ancona University, Italy.
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Garzetti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciavattini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Provinciali
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Valensise
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romanini
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fabris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008875:Middle Aged; D010388:Pelvis; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D001761:Bleomycin; D002945:Cisplatin