Figure 3

CD8⁺ T cell responses to multiple breast cancer-associated antigenic epitopes assessed by IFN-γ-ELISPOT (interferon-γ-Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Spot). All tests were performed using CD8⁺ purified T cells as effectors and autologous peptide-loaded monocytes as antigen presenting cells (APCs; effector:target ratio of 1:1). The number (enumerated as SFC, spot forming cells) of TAA-specific (or FluM1-specific, flu matrix protein1-derived epitope) circulating CD8⁺ T cells was investigated in HER2^- (neg = 7) and HER2⁺ (pos = 6) breast cancer patients, whereas antigen-specific responses of healthy women were used as controls (ctrl = 5). PHA-loaded and empty monocytes (EMPTY MONO) were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. For peptides amino acid sequences, refer to Table 2. HER-2, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2; TAA, tumor-associated antigens.