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01-12-2021 | Breast Cancer | Research article

Circulating immune cell populations related to primary breast cancer, surgical removal, and radiotherapy revealed by flow cytometry analysis

Authors: Sarah Cattin, Benoît Fellay, Antonello Calderoni, Alexandre Christinat, Laura Negretti, Maira Biggiogero, Alberto Badellino, Anne-Lise Schneider, Pelagia Tsoutsou, Alessandra Franzetti Pellanda, Curzio Rüegg

Published in: Breast Cancer Research | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background

Advanced breast cancer (BC) impact immune cells in the blood but whether such effects may reflect the presence of early BC and its therapeutic management remains elusive.

Methods

To address this question, we used multiparametric flow cytometry to analyze circulating leukocytes in patients with early BC (n = 13) at the time of diagnosis, after surgery, and after adjuvant radiotherapy, compared to healthy individuals. Data were analyzed using a minimally supervised approach based on FlowSOM algorithm and validated manually.

Results

At the time of diagnosis, BC patients have an increased frequency of CD117⁺CD11b⁺ granulocytes, which was significantly reduced after tumor removal. Adjuvant radiotherapy increased the frequency of CD45RO⁺ memory CD4⁺ T cells and CD4⁺ regulatory T cells. FlowSOM algorithm analysis revealed several unanticipated populations, including cells negative for all markers tested, CD11b⁺CD15^low, CD3⁺CD4⁻CD8⁻, CD3⁺CD4⁺CD8⁺, and CD3⁺CD8⁺CD127⁺CD45RO⁺ cells, associated with BC or radiotherapy.

Conclusions

This study revealed changes in blood leukocytes associated with primary BC, surgical removal, and adjuvant radiotherapy. Specifically, it identified increased levels of CD117⁺ granulocytes, memory, and regulatory CD4⁺ T cells as potential biomarkers of BC and radiotherapy, respectively. Importantly, the study demonstrates the value of unsupervised analysis of complex flow cytometry data to unravel new cell populations of potential clinical relevance.

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Title: Circulating immune cell populations related to primary breast cancer, surgical removal, and radiotherapy revealed by flow cytometry analysis
Authors: Sarah Cattin
Benoît Fellay
Antonello Calderoni
Alexandre Christinat
Laura Negretti
Maira Biggiogero
Alberto Badellino
Anne-Lise Schneider
Pelagia Tsoutsou
Alessandra Franzetti Pellanda
Curzio Rüegg
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer
Radiotherapy
Biomarkers
Published in: Breast Cancer Research / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1465-542X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13058-021-01441-8

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