Associations of TH17 cells with HLA-DR allotypes and outcomes in breast carcinoma

LeShane, Lisa (2013) Associations of TH17 cells with HLA-DR allotypes and outcomes in breast carcinoma. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

A previous study in the Drover laboratory found that IL-6 and HLA-DR52 were associated with increased breast tumor size and decreased recurrence free survival (RFS). Since IL-6, along with TGF-β, is required for the differentiation of naive T cells into TH17 cells, we hypothesized that the number of TH17 cells would be increased in HLA-DR52+ tumors and statistically associate with both larger tumors and decreased RFS. -- Following polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor C2 (RORc2) and IL-17 transcripts, we developed a T H 17 cell profile. Statistical analysis did not reveal associations between TH1711i, IL-6hi or HLADR52+ tumors. Both IL-17hi and TH17hi correlated with younger age of diagnosis. Further analysis revealed that TH1711i/HLA-DR52+ tumors had the youngest age of diagnosis. There were no significant associations with decreased RFS or overall survival (OS). Yet, both IL-1711i and TH1711i trended with decreased OS. Future studies should expand on the sample size and determine if these associations and trends remain in a larger sample.

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