Figure 6
NK cell activatory markers on peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of SCCHN patients before and at indicated time-points after therapy. EDTA blood samples from selected patients (n = 7) were collected at indicated time points before therapy (1), after tumor resection before start of radiation therapy (2), in the 1st year of follow-up (3), and in the 2nd year of follow-up (4). The time points of surgery and radiation are indicated with S and R in the upper part of each graph. NK cells were stained by using the lysis-wash method and analyzed by flow cytometry. A-F. CD56-positive and CD3-negative NK cells were gated and analyzed. Mean fluorescence intensity (mfi) of CD56, CD94, NKG2D, NKp30, NKp44, NKp46 were determined. Time-curves are shown for individual patients. G. Mean fluorescence intensity values of all markers of all patients with error bars and standard deviations (n = 7). Samples were taken before therapy (1), after tumor resection before start of radiation therapy (2), in the 1st year of follow-up (3), and in the 2nd year of follow-up (4) * p<0.05.