Natural killer cell activity and progression-free survival in ovarian cancer.
A longitudinal evaluation of the natural killer (NK) cell activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes was performed in 17 patients with advanced ovarian cancer (treated surgically and with subsequent multiagent chemotherapy) for a median follow-up period of 32 months. At the time of primary treatment, the mean value of NK cell activity was significantly lower in patients who then had disease progression (p < 0.05) than in patients with progression-free survival. During the follow-up period, no significant modifications of the NK cell activity were observed; only at the time of clinical disease progression did the NK cell activity show a significant reduction. We conclude that the NK cell activity is a potentially important prognostic factor.
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Ancona, Italy.
G G
GG
Garzetti
M
M
Cignitti
A
A
Ciavattini
N
N
Fabris
C
C
Romanini
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery; D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003537:Cystadenoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis
D015251:Epirubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D002945:Cisplatin