Effect of Conventional Chemotherapies on Natural Killer Cell Activity
Background: The effects of chemotherapeutics agents are considered to influence immune system and cells due to their myelosuppressive and immunosuppressive functions. Natural Killer Cells are one of the important components of innate immune system and have a critical role against tumor cells and infections. Objective: The study was aimed to demonstrate whether conventional chemotherapies had an effect on Natural Killer (NK) cell activity. Methods: 49 adjuvant, 19 first time metastatic chemotherapy-naïve cancer patients were recruited into the study. Pre-chemotherapy and post-chemotherapy, at 1th and 4th cycles, blood samples were obtained for NK cell activity. Results: We found no difference between baseline and post-chemotherapy NK cell activity levels. In addition, we found no difference between pre-chemotherapy and post-chemotherapy NK cell activity in both adjuvant and metastatic cancer patients separately. Conclusion: Conventional chemotherapy seems to no affect NK cell activity levels in cancer patients in both metastatic and adjuvant settings.