{
  "abstract": "Immune-checkpoint blockade has improved outcomes in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), but resistance remains common. Natural killer (NK) cells provide complementary surveillance when classical major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) expression is lost or heterogeneous. HLA-E can inhibit NK cells and subsets of CD8+ T cells through CD94/NKG2A, but can also engage activating CD94/NKG2C. In breast cancer, HLA-E associations depend on classical MHC-I status, while spatial TNBC studies link MHC-I heterogeneity to NKG2A-mediated resistance in experimental models. Evidence varies by subtype and remains predominantly translational; clinical efficacy of NKG2A blockade has not been established, including in the small MIMOSA trial of HER2-positive disease. This Mini Review evaluates breast cancer-specific and cross-tumor evidence, the NKG2A/NKG2C balance, therapeutic combinations, and practical biomarker development. We propose prospective assessment of tumor-cell surface HLA-E, regional MHC-I status, NKG2A-positive effectors, activating-receptor balance, and spatial proximity rather than HLA-E positivity alone.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Breast Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University",
    "Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University",
    "Department of Radiation Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University",
    "Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Lvzhu Li"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Xiaoxu Han"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Lu Lu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Kuan Liu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Yongle Li"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Lei Su"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/d4a1v7pjfdft5.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fimmu.2026.2001812",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "d4a1v7pjfdft5",
  "issns": [
    "1664-3224"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2026.2001812/full",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2403|Immune Cell Function and Interaction"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7224079460",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-28",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media SA",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/d4a1v7pjfdft5.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:17Z",
      "native_id": "10.3389/fimmu.2026.2001812",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2026.2001812/full"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "openalex:2403|Immune Cell Function and Interaction",
      "subfield": "immunology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "The HLA-E–NKG2A axis in breast cancer: an emerging NK-cell checkpoint and therapeutic target",
  "title_text": "The HLA-E–NKG2A axis in breast cancer: an emerging NK-cell checkpoint and therapeutic target",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:19:17Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/d4a1v7pjfdft5",
  "venue": "Frontiers in Immunology",
  "versions": []
}