Abstract 3244: Tumor infiltrating (TINKs) and tumor-associated (TANKs) natural killer cells (TINKs): A new paradigm in colorectal cancer
Authors: Bruno Antonino , Bassani Barbara , D’Urso Davide Giuseppe , Zanellato Silvia , Gini Elisabetta , Cassinotti Elisa , Boni Luigi , Mortara Lorenzo , Albini Adriana , Noonan Douglas M. 
Published: July 2016

Tumor infiltrating immune cells often show a skewed phenotype that reflects attenuation of anti-tumor activity and enhancement of pro-tumor activities, including angiogenesis. Natural Killer (NK) cells are effectors lymphocytes of innate immunity, primarily involved in immunosurvelliance against tumors through their cytotoxic activity. We previously reported that NKs from Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) show the decidual-like CD56brightCD16-VEGFhighPlGFhighIL-8+IFNγlow phenotype [Bruno et al, Neoplasia, 2014; Bruno et al, JNCI, 2014].

Here we investigated whether tumor associated (TANKs) and tumor infiltrating (TINKs) NK cells undergo an angiogenic-switch in colorectal cancer (CRC).

NK subset distribution and cytokine profiling were performed by multicolor flow cytometry, using peripheral blood and tissue samples from CRC patients. Conditioned media (CM) from FACS-sorted NKs were used either for secretomic profiling, by antibody membrane array or angiogenesis functional assay on human umbilical endothelial vein cells (HUVECs)

We found that CD56brightCD16− NK cells predominate in CRC adjacent and tumor tissues, produce VEGF, PlGF, IL-8 and show impaired cytotoxicity. Further, TINK/TANKs from CRC patients express the decidual NK markers CD9 and CD49a. Secretomic analysis on CRC peripheral blood NKs revealed up regulation for several pro angiogenic factors, including Angiogenin, Angiopoietin-1/2, TIMP-1/2, Tie-2, MMP1, MMP9. Media conditioned by FACS sorted NK cells from peripheral blood and tumor tissue of CRC patients were able to induce HUVEC proliferation, migration and the formation of capillary like structures.

Our data demonstrate that TINK/TANKS from CRC patients are switched toward a pro-angiogenic/pro-tumor phenotype and function. We propose that TINK/TANKs could represent the hallmark for a new paradigm in CRC inflammation.

1. Bruno A, Focaccetti C, Pagani A, Imperatori AS, Spagnoletti M, Rotolo N, Cantelmo AR, Franzi F, Capella C, Ferlazzo G, Mortara L, Albini A, Noonan DM. The proangiogenic phenotype of natural killer cells in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Neopla sia. 2013 Feb;15(2):133-42.

2. Bruno A, Ferlazzo G, Albini A, Noonan DM. A think tank of TINK/TANKs: tumor infiltrating/tumor-associated natural killer cells in tumor progression and angiogenesis. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2014

Aug;106(8):dju200

Citation Format: Antonino Bruno, Barbara Bassani, Davide Giuseppe D’Urso, Silvia Zanellato, Elisabetta Gini, Elisa Cassinotti, Luigi Boni, Lorenzo Mortara, Adriana Albini, Douglas M. Noonan. Tumor infiltrating (TINKs) and tumor-associated (TANKs) natural killer cells (TINKs): A new paradigm in colorectal cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3244.