Fig. 7

Correlation between IL-8 and multiple clinical parameters. The mechanistic action of IL-6 or IL-8 impairs NK cell function. a The expression level of IL-8 in paired tumour and adjacent tissues was detected by IHC. Scale bar of IHC staining images indicates 20 μM. b The percentage of tumour-infiltrating IL-8+ cells correlates with multiple clinical parameters of ESCC. The percentage of IL-8+ cells was analysed for putative correlations with multiple clinical parameters. For the cumulative survival curves, patients were separated into two groups by the median value of tumour-infiltrating IL-8+ cell percentages, and Kaplan-Meier plots were used to calculate cumulative survival differences. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ****p < 0.0001. Each dot represents 1 patient. c Schematic diagram. Tumour-derived IL-6 or IL-8 acts on NK cells in an autocrine manner. IL-6 and IL-8 reduce NKp30 and NKG2D expression on NK cell surfaces by enhancing STAT3 phosphorylation, which enhances tumour malignancy and impairs NK cell function