title: Characterization of tumor infiltrating natural killer cell subset.
abstract: The presence of tumor-infiltrating Natural Killer (NK) within a tumor bed may be indicative of an ongoing immune response toward the tumor. However, many studies have shown that an intense NK infiltration, is associated with advanced disease and may even facilitate cancer development. The exact role of the tumor infiltrating NK cells and the correlation between their presence and poor prognosis remains unclear. Interestingly, during pregnancy high numbers of a specific NK subset, CD56(bright)CD16(dim), are accumulated within first trimester deciduas. These decidual NK (dNK) cells are unique in their gene expression pattern secret angiogenic factors that induce vascular growth. In the present study we demonstrate a significant enrichment of a CD56(brigh)CD16(dim) NK cells within tumors. These NK cells express several dNK markers including VEGF. Hence, this study adds new insights into the identity of tumor residual NK cells, which has clear implications for the treatment of human cancer.
authors.affiliation: Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene Therapy, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Inbar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah University Hospital-Mount Scopus, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Hagai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Amsalem
authors.affiliation: The Surgical Oncology Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Mount Scopus, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Aviram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nissan
authors.affiliation: Sharett Institute of Oncology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Merav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Darash-Yahana
authors.affiliation: Sharett Institute of Oncology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Tamar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Peretz
authors.affiliation: The Lautenberg Center for General and Tumor Immunology, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Ofer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mandelboim
authors.affiliation: Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene Therapy, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rachmilewitz
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy
keywords: NK cells; TILs; VEGF; decidua