CD56+ immune cell infiltration and MICA are decreased in breast lobules with fibrocystic changes.
Daniel KerekesDaniel W VisscherTanya L HoskinDerek C RadiskyRushin D BrahmbhattAlvaro PenaMarlene H FrostMuhammad ArshadMelody Stallings-MannStacey J WinhamLinda MurphyLori DenisonJodi M CarterKeith L KnutsonAmylou C DueckPublished in: Breast cancer research and treatment (2017)
Levels of CD56+ NK cells and activating ligand MICA were decreased in breast lobules with fibrocystic change, and MICA levels showed a significant stepwise decrease with increasing histopathologic abnormality. MICA levels were also significantly decreased in older subjects, who generally have higher risk of developing cancer. These findings advance a model in which MICA promotes cytotoxic activity in CD56+ NK cells to protect against tumorigenesis in breast lobules, and suggest further research is warranted.