Author/Authors :
Hamidinia, Maryam Department of Immunology and Cancer Research Center , Taghdiri, Maryam Department of Immunology and Cancer Research Center , Ghafourian Boroujerdnia, Mehri Department of Immunology - Faculty of Medicine , Talaiezadeh, Abdolhassan Department of Surgery - Faculty of Medicine - Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences - Ahvaz , Solgi, Ghasem Department of Immunolog - School of Medicine - Hamadan University of Medical Sciences - Hamadan , Khodadadi, Ali Department of Immunology and Cancer Research Center
Abstract :
Background: Regulatory T cells (T-regs) have an important role in cancer by suppression
of protective antitumor immune responses. Regulatory T cells express the forkhead/
winged helix transcription factor (FOXP3) and OX40 molecules which have important
regulatory roles in the immune system. Objective: To evaluate FOXP3 and
OX40 transcripts in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of women with breast cancer.
Methods: Blood samples from 40 women with histologically-confirmed infiltrating
ductal carcinoma of the breast and 40 healthy volunteer women without a history of malignancy
or autoimmune disorders were collected. The abundance of FOXP3 and OX40
gene transcripts were determined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Results:
There was a significant positive correlation between FOXP3 and OX40 gene expression
in women with breast cancer in a stage dependent manner. Conclusion: This finding
emphasizes the importance of T-regs as predominant targets for breast cancer immunotherapy.
