Abstract |
The role of the immune system in cancer immunoserveilance and immunoediting is
vital. In particular, cancer cells exploit the mechanism of “immunoescape” to evade
the immunoserveilance, which can lead to uncontrollable proliferation and finally to
oncogenesis. While the immune response is a dynamic and constantly changeable
biological process, its definition and characterization is limited by the conventional
immunohistochemical analysis of the tumor. Therefore, “liquid biopsy” demonstrates
great usefulness in this framework, as it involves the investigation of circulating tumor
cells (CTCs) in the peripheral blood of cancer patients. It is a simple process with the
choice of repetition in different time points, picturing the tumor profile in real time
circumstances. Recent data claim the contribution of liquid biopsy in the investigation
of the interactions between immune and cancer cells in real time, for the purpose of a
better understanding regarding the immune response and the tumor immunoescape
mechanisms.
In the present study, molecules and pathways associated with the immune response
will be investigated using the tool of liquid biopsy in breast cancer patients, of
recurrent or de novo metastatic profile, about to receive their first line therapy.
Specifically, the current study is focused on the pathway of Fas/FasL (FS-7-
associated surface antigen/FS-7-associated surface antigen ligand) which is involved
in the regulation of immune homoestasis, but also in tumor immunoescape,
participating in both the innate and adaptive immunity. The expression of Fas and
FasL molecules will be investigated simultaneously in CTCs and normal peripheral
blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients' blood with the use of
immunocytochemistry and microscopic observation. The present study is expected to
contribute to the existing knowledge about the mechanisms of immunoescape in
breast cancer, to highlight possible new goals of immunotherapy and to further
explore the importance of liquid biopsy in this field of research.
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