Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40805205›Full record

ArticleCancers2025

Comprehensive Receptor Repertoire and Functional Analysis of Peripheral NK Cells in Soft Tissue Sarcoma Patients.

Luana Madalena Sousa, Jani-Sofia Almeida, Tânia Fortes-Andrade, Patrícia Couceiro, Joana Rodrigues, Rúben Fonseca, Manuel Santos-Rosa, Paulo Freitas-Tavares, José Manuel Casanova, Paulo Rodrigues-Santos

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cancers, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Luana Madalena SousaLaboratory of Immunology and Oncology, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal.
Jani-Sofia AlmeidaLaboratory of Immunology and Oncology, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal.ORCID 0000-0003-2024-0434
Tânia Fortes-AndradeLaboratory of Immunology and Oncology, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal.
Patrícia CouceiroLaboratory of Immunology and Oncology, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal.
Joana RodriguesClinical Academic Centre of Coimbra (CACC), 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal.
Rúben FonsecaClinical Academic Centre of Coimbra (CACC), 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal.
Manuel Santos-RosaCenter for Innovation in Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3000-504 Coimbra, Portugal.
Paulo Freitas-TavaresClinical Academic Centre of Coimbra (CACC), 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal.ORCID 0000-0001-7832-4134
José Manuel CasanovaCenter for Innovation in Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3000-504 Coimbra, Portugal.
Paulo Rodrigues-SantosLaboratory of Immunology and Oncology, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal.ORCID 0000-0001-7519-1620

Funding

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007440Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia 2023.02511.BDFundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia SFRH/BD/148007/2019Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia UIDB/04539/2020Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia UIDP/04539/2020
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSoft tissue sarcomas (STSs) are a rare and heterogeneous group of mesenchymal tumors with limited response to current therapies, particularly in advanced stages. STS tumors were traditionally considered "cold" tumors, characterized by limited immune infiltration and low immunogenicity. However, emerging evidence is challenging this perception, highlighting a potentially critical role for the immune system in STS biology.

objectiveBuilding on our previous findings suggesting impaired natural killer (NK) cell activity in STS patients, we aimed to perform an in-depth characterization of peripheral NK cells in STS.

methodsPeripheral blood samples from STS patients and sex- and age-matched healthy donors were analyzed to assess NK cell degranulation, IFNγ production, and receptor repertoire.

resultsFunctional assays revealed a notable reduction in both degranulation and IFNγ production in NK cells from STS patients. STS patients also exhibited dysregulated expression of activating and inhibitory NK cell receptors. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified CD27 and NKp44 as critical markers for distinguishing STS patients from healthy donors. Increased CD27 expression represents a shift towards a more regulatory NK cell phenotype, and we found that CD27 expression was negatively correlated with NK cell degranulation and IFNγ production. ROC curve analysis demonstrated strong potential to distinguish between the groups for both CD27 (AUC = 0.85) and NKp44 (AUC = 0.94).

conclusionIn conclusion, STS patients exhibited impaired NK cell function, altered receptor repertoire, and a shift towards a less cytotoxic and more regulatory phenotype.

Indexed as

cancer immunotherapyinnate immunityinnate lymphoid cellsnatural killer cellsreceptor repertoiresoft tissue sarcoma

Identifiers

PMID40805205
PMCPMC12346150

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.