Natural killer cells in pancreatic cancer stroma

Figure 5 Natural killer cell dysfunction caused by tumoral and stromal cells in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Natural killer (NK) cell interactions with multiple stromal and tumour cells significantly impacts the cytotoxic efficacy of NK cells in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Transforming growth factor -β, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6, IL-23 and IL-1β release significantly dampens NK cell cytotoxicity and function, and inhibits intratumoural proliferation of NK cells. NK cell mediated cytokine release is also inhibited within the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment. Finally, chemokine release may also sequester NK cells in the panstromal compartment, preventing engagement with tumour cells.