title: NK Cell Inflammation in the Clinical Outcome of Colorectal Carcinoma.
abstract: The ability of natural killer (NK) cells to provide protection against myeloid leukemia has been demonstrated in clinical settings. However, whether NK cells play a role in the clinical course of solid tumors is debated. The controversy surrounding the role of NK cells is due, at least in part, to the limited extent of NK cell infiltration found in the tumor bed. Inactivation of NK cells may explain the shortage of NK cells in the microenvironment of colorectal cancer (CRC). Upon NK cell/tumor cell interaction, tumor cells may escape NK cells by creating an immunosuppressive microenvironment, which possibly affects T-cells as well. Such an immunosuppressive microenvironment would hamper the functions of NK and T-cell and reduce NK and T-cell interactions. CRC patients with levels of tumor NK cell infiltration suitable for statistical analysis have been identified. The infiltration of the CRC microenvironment by NK cells, in combination with CD8(+) T-lymphocytes, has been shown to enhance the prognosis of CRC patients. Here, we discuss the clinicopathological role of NK cells in CRC, and present clinical data indicating a potential supporting role for NK cells in the anti-CRC effects of CD8(+) T-cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Systems Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata" , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coppola
authors.affiliation: Institute of Systems Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata" , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arriga
authors.affiliation: Institute of Systems Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata" , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lauro
authors.affiliation: Hematology, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata" , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Ilaria
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Del Principe
authors.affiliation: Hematology, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata" , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Buccisano
authors.affiliation: Hematology, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata" , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maurillo
authors.affiliation: Hematology, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata" , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Palomba
authors.affiliation: Hematology, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata" , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Venditti
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Institute of Translational Pharmacology, CNR , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sconocchia
keywords: CD8+ T cells; NK cells; colorectal carcinoma; cooperation; inflammation; survival