Preventing surgery-induced NK cell dysfunction and cancer metastases with influenza vaccination

Abstract

Surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment for solid tumors, but the postoperative period is uniquely inclined to the formation of metastases, largely due to the suppression of natural killer (NK) cells. We found that preoperative influenza vaccination prevents postoperative NK-cell dysfunction, attenuating tumor dissemination in murine models and promoting the activation of NK cells in cancer patients.

Keywords::

• influenza vaccine
• natural killer cells
• immunosuppression
• cancer metastases
• surgical stress