Figure 6. Effects of targeted anticancer therapeutics on the ratio between effector and regulatory T cells and on the immunosuppressive activity of the latter in patients with breast cancer or metastatic renal cell carcinoma. (A–B) Waterfall plots of the change in the ratio between CD4⁺ effector T cells and regulatory T cells (Teff:Treg ratio) (A), and in the immunosuppressive activity of Tregs (B), in breast cancer patients receiving tamoxifen plus a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist upon surgery (n = 8). Patients of premenopausal status were treated in the adjuvant setting post-surgery with tamoxifen daily and GnRH agonist every 3 months. Peripheral blood samples were collected prior to therapy (baseline, day 0) and at post 3 months. (C–D) Waterfall plots of the change in CD4⁺ Teff:Treg ratio (C), and Treg-mediated immunosuppression (D), in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients receiving sunitinib monotherapy (n = 10). Patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma were treated with sunitinib monotherapy daily for 4 weeks followed by 2 weeks of rest; this comprised a 6-week cycle of therapy. Peripheral blood was collected prior to therapy, and at the end of the second round of chemotherapy in cycle II.