W29 - Analyzing Differences in Age on the Influence of Breast Cancer-derived Signals on T Cell Activation and Cytotoxicity

Saturday, October 11, 2025

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PDT

Location: Exhibit Hall F, G & H

Presenting Author(s)

Melody Garcia-Vega

Undergraduate Researcher
Virginia Tech
Roanoke, Virginia, United States

Co-Author(s)

Hailey E. Murphy

Research Assistant
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia, United States

Primary Investigator(s)

Monet Roberts

Assistant Professor
Virginia Tech, United States

Introduction: : Aging is known to overall diminish immune function, but one notable change that results from aging is the reduction of T cell proliferation as well as their decline in function. This decline in function weakens their response to foreign agents, negatively impacting their ability to eliminate them. In cancer, malignant cells send signals to prevent T cell activation and ultimately cause cancer cells to evade detection. Our research aims to show the combined effect of age and tumor derived signals on T cells to promote an immunosuppressive environment for tumor progression.

Materials and

Methods: : T cells collected for this experiment were derived from blood samples taken from a 55-year-old male and 21-year-old female. To simulate an immunosuppressive environment, we exposed aged and young T cells to interleukin-2 (IL-2) for possible CD8 expression and interleukin-10 (IL-10) for CD4 expression in the presence of extracellular vesicles isolated from either Jurkat leukemia cells or MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, compared to control conditions. T cells were then analyzed via flow cytometry for viability, CD8/CD4 expression, and proliferation to compare levels of activation for the T cells.

Results, Conclusions, and Discussions:: Our results are expected to demonstrate changes in T cell phenotype and activation patterns among the young and aged T cell populations in the presence of immunosuppressive conditions. Further, we expect these phenotypes to be more amplified when exposed to tumor-derived EVs. We also will provide unique insights on the functional response of T cells to extracellular vesicles from solid tumors in comparison to circulatory/liquid tumors.

Our findings suggest the possibility of altered T cell phenotype and activation due to breast cancer microenvironment signals causing immunosuppression, consequently limiting cytotoxic function. This research may provide the basis for effective targeted therapies that could ultimately reduce hinderances on T cell function.

Acknowledgements and/or References (Optional): : Lewis et al., “Age-Associated Alterations in Immune Function and Inflammation.” (2022)
Montecino-Rodriguez et al., “Causes, Consequences, and Reversal of Immune System Aging.” (2013)
Jiang et al., “Role of IL-2 in Cancer Immunotherapy.” (2016)
“IL-10 Directly Activates and Expands Tumor-Resident CD8+ T Cells without De Novo Infiltration from Secondary Lymphoid Organs | Cancer Research | American Association for Cancer Research.” (2012)

Acknowledgements: Ryan Smith