Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41578270›Full record

ArticleCancer cell international2026

Interferon-α enhances NK cell function to counteract autologous platelet-mediated tumor immune evasion.

Li-Tzu Wang, Chih-Chin Shih, Yu-Hong Chen, Chao-Feng Chang, Hsiu-Lung Fan, Teng-Wei Chen, Ying-Wen Chen, S Krupalakshmi, Yun-Fei Lin, Yu-Lueng Shih and 3 more

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Article in Cancer cell international, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Li-Tzu WangSchool of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chih-Chin ShihGraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Yu-Hong ChenDivision of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri- Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chao-Feng ChangDivision of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri- Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Hsiu-Lung FanDivision of Organ Transplantation Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tri- Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Teng-Wei ChenDivision of Organ Transplantation Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tri- Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Ying-Wen ChenGraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
S KrupalakshmiSchool of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Yun-Fei LinSchool of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Yu-Lueng ShihDivision of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri- Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Tsai-Yuan HsiehDivision of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri- Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Wen-Yen HuangDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Wei-Chen HuangDivision of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri- Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. weichen@mail.ndmctsgh.edu.tw.

Funding

National Science and Technology Council 111-2314-B-016-049National Science and Technology Council 113-2314-B-038-021Taipei Medical University TMU112-AE1-B08Tri-Service General Hospital VTA113-T-5-1/VTA114-T-2-1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNatural Killer (NK) cells, a cellular defense component of the innate immune system, play a vital role in anti-tumor immunity. As interest in NK cell-based therapies grows within the field of cancer treatment, assessing potential negative interferences and adverse interactions is essential. Although platelets are recognized as modulators of tumor immunity, the impact of autologous platelets on NK cell function remains insufficiently explored in the realm of personalized medicine.

methodsTo investigate the role of autologous platelets in modulating NK cell activity, we developed a novel assessment platform using fresh blood samples from 34 healthy donors (25 females, 9 males; mean age 28.29 ± 6.25 years). NK cells, with or without prior IFN-α stimulation, were co-cultured with K562 leukemia cells in the presence or absence of autologous platelets to assess functional responses.

resultsNK cells can exert anti-tumor immunity by releasing cytokines like IFN-γ and directly eliminating tumor cells through cytotoxic granules. In our co-culture system, platelets demonstrated suppressive effects on NK cell IFN-γ production and cytotoxic degranulation, resulting in impaired tumor cell killing. Notably, this suppression was effectively reversed by IFN-α treatment, which restored NK cell cytotoxic function and cytokine responses in all donors tested.

conclusionOur study reveals that autologous platelets compromise NK cell-mediated anti-tumor responses, but this suppression can be overcome with IFN-α treatment. The assessment platform we introduced provides a practical tool to study platelet–NK–tumor interactions and serves as a valuable model for screening immunomodulatory agents and tailoring NK cell-based therapies.

Indexed as

Autologous plateletIFN-αNatural killer (NK) cellPersonalized treatmentTumor surveillance

Identifiers

PMID41578270
PMCPMC12911089

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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 OpenQuestion graph.