Radiation-induced and obesity-dependent NK cell activities

Radiation therapy (RT) is one of the leading therapeutic approaches used in the management of metastatic breast cancer (BC). However, currently existing RT schedules are limited in their efficacy due to the impossibility to reach a curative radiation dose for killing of aggressive and radiation resistant carcinoma cells. Although high -LET irradiation could more efficiently eradicate therapy resistant carcinoma cells in comparison with photon -based RT, it is unclear whether it could also better mobilize immune cells for elimination of undifferentiated and radioresistant cancer stem cells (CSCs). Currently, overweight and obesity is an increasing problem that can diminish an efficacy of RT and alter immune response in patients with metastatic BC. Unfortunately, it is still unknown how adipocytes can contribute to the crosstalk between carcinoma and immune cells upon low- and high-LET radiation exposure. Research objectives: elucidation of the role of obese microenvironment in the regulation of cytotoxic activities of low- and high-LET ionizing radiations and NK cells against BC cells with enhanced metastatic properties.