Tumour-draining axillary lymph nodes in patients with large and locally advanced breast cancers undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC): the crucial contribution of immune cells (effector, regulatory) and cytokines (Th1, Th2) to immune-mediated tumour cell death induced by NAC

Table 7 Expression of Cytokines (Th1, Th2 and Th17), IDO^(a), PD-L1^(b)and VEGF^(c) in ALNs^(d) in Women with LLABCs^(e)Undergoing NAC^(f)

(n = 16)	Groups	Low/Negative Expression (n)	High Expression (n)	Pearson Chi-Square Value	P Value
IL-1	Non metastatic ALNs (n = 9)	3	6	0.042	0.838
IL-1	Metastatic ALNs (n = 7)	2	5	0.042	0.838
IL-2	Non metastatic ALNs (n = 9)	1	8	8.905	0.003^h
IL-2	Metastatic ALNs (n = 7)	6	1	8.905	0.003^h
IL-4	Non metastatic ALNs (n = 9)	3	6	0.152	0.696
IL-4	Metastatic ALNs (n = 7)	3	4	0.152	0.696
IL-10	Non metastatic ALNs (n = 9)	7	2	3.874	0.049^h
IL-10	Metastatic ALNs (n = 7)	2	5	3.874	0.049^h
IL-17	Non metastatic ALNs (n = 9)	1	8	2.116	0.146
IL-17	Metastatic ALNs (n = 7)	3	4	2.116	0.146
IDO^(g)	Non metastatic ALNs (n = 9)	2	7	2.049	0.152
IDO^(g)	Metastatic ALNs (n = 7)	4	3	2.049	0.152
PD-L1	Non metastatic ALNs (n = 9)	7	2	0.085	0.771
PD-L1	Metastatic ALNs (n = 7)	5	2	0.085	0.771
IFN-γ	Non metastatic ALNs (n = 9)	1	8	3.883	0.049^h
IFN-γ	Metastatic ALNs (n = 7)	4	3	3.883	0.049^h
TGF-β^(g)	Non metastatic ALNs (n = 9)	5	4	0.423	0.515
TGF-β^(g)	Metastatic ALNs (n = 7)	5	2	0.423	0.515
VEGF	Non metastatic ALNs (n = 9)	6	3	0.762	0.383
VEGF	Metastatic ALNs (n = 7)	6	1	0.762	0.383

^(a)IDO: Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase; ^(b)PDL-1: Programmed death ligand 1; ^(c)VEGF: Vascular endothelial growth factor; ^(d)ALNs: Axillary lymph nodes; ^(e)LLABCs: Large and locally advanced breast cancers; ^(f)NAC: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy; ^(g)IDO and TGF-β were scored as negative and positive; ^hStatistically significant

ISSN: 1471-2407