Abstract
This study assessed the relationship between the ability of Natural Killer (NK) cells to activate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against human HT29 colorectal cancer cells exposed to cetuximab and the body mass index of the human subjects from whom the NK cells had been obtained. NK cells obtained from 73 human donors were co-incubated with HT-29 human colon cancer cells in the presence or absence of cetuximab. Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity was assessed by measuring LDH release. A significant negative correlation was observed between body mass index and cetuximab-induced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. NK cells obtained from subjects who were overweight or with obesity were less efficient in killing cetuximab-treated HT29 cells than those derived from normal weight donors. Our results suggest that the success of cetuximab-containing regimens might be impaired in overweight and obese patients with colorectal cancer.
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None of the Authors have any potential conflict of interest associated with this research.
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Notes on contributors
Leonardo Campiotti
Dr. Leonardo Campiotti, MD, Assistent Professor of Internal Medicine, University of Insubria. Main interests in hemathology, oncology and immunotherapy.
Marzia Bruna Gariboldi
Prof. Marzia Bruna Gariboldi, PhD, Professor of Applied Biology. Author of research studies on anticancer pharmacology, photodynamic therapy, drug delivery systems, natural compounds as anticancer drugs, drug resistance.
Lorenzo Mortara
Prof. Lorenzo Mortara, PhD, Professor of General Pathology and Immunology. He has conducted research in tumor immunology, anti-viral immune responses and vaccines.
Douglas McClain Noonan
Prof. Douglas Noonan, PhD, Professor of General Pathology and Immunology. He has conducted research in the tumor microenvironment (extracellular matrix, angiogenesis, immune cells), author of more than 200 articles in peer-reviewed journals.
Daniela Gallo
Dr. Daniela Gallo, PhD in Experimental and Translational Medicine, involved in researches on obesity and thyroid autoimmune disorders.
Olga Nigro
Dr. Olga Nigro, MD, resident in Medical Oncology. Main interests in immunotherapy, tumor microenvironment, NSCLC and Melanoma.
Elena Monti
Prof. Eliana Piantanida, Associate Professor of Endocrinology, author of research studies mainly in the field of obesity and thyroid autoimmunity.