Immunological Profile of Different Subtypes of Breast Cancer in Ghanaian Patients on Chemotherapy

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women in Ghana. Although chemotherapy remains a cornerstone of treatment, its impact on immune responses across breast cancer subtypes is not well understood, particularly in African populations. Aim: This study aimed to characterize the immunological profiles of Ghanaian breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy by assessing immune cell subsets and cytokine expression and comparing these profiles across molecular subtypes. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted using 75 participants. Whole blood was processed to isolate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and plasma. Flow cytometry was used to analyze immune cell subsets, including B cells, natural killer (NK) cells, cytotoxic T cells, monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (M-MDSCs), and antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Cytokine levels were measured using a Luminex multiplex assay. Results: Chemotherapy did not significantly alter overall immune cell frequencies. However, cytotoxic T cell counts were significantly higher Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HR-/HER2)-enriched patients compared to triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. Cytokine analysis revealed increased levels of both pro-tumorigenic (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-10) and anti-tumorigenic (IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-12p70) cytokines in chemotherapy-treated patients compared to treatment-naïve patients. No significant differences in cytokine expression were observed across breast cancer subtypes. Conclusion: Chemotherapy may induce both pro-tumorigenic and anti-tumorigenic immune responses in Ghanaian breast cancer patients without markedly altering overall immune cell distributions. Findings highlight the possible complex immunomodulatory role of chemotherapy and underscore the need for further studies to optimize treatment strategies in this population.