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Franken A, Bila M, Mechels A, Kint S, Van Dessel J, Pomella V, Vanuytven S, Philips G, Bricard O, Xiong J, Boeckx B, Hatse S, Van Brussel T, Schepers R, Van Aerde C, Geurs S, Vandecaveye V, Hauben E, Vander Poorten V, Verbandt S, Vandereyken K, Qian J, Tejpar S, Voet T, Clement PM, Lambrechts D. CD4 + T cell activation distinguishes response to anti-PD-L1+anti-CTLA4 therapy from anti-PD-L1 monotherapy. Immunity 2024; 57:541-558.e7. [PMID: 38442708 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2024.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Cancer patients often receive a combination of antibodies targeting programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA4). We conducted a window-of-opportunity study in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) to examine the contribution of anti-CTLA4 to anti-PD-L1 therapy. Single-cell profiling of on- versus pre-treatment biopsies identified T cell expansion as an early response marker. In tumors, anti-PD-L1 triggered the expansion of mostly CD8+ T cells, whereas combination therapy expanded both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Such CD4+ T cells exhibited an activated T helper 1 (Th1) phenotype. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells co-localized with and were surrounded by dendritic cells expressing T cell homing factors or antibody-producing plasma cells. T cell receptor tracing suggests that anti-CTLA4, but not anti-PD-L1, triggers the trafficking of CD4+ naive/central-memory T cells from tumor-draining lymph nodes (tdLNs), via blood, to the tumor wherein T cells acquire a Th1 phenotype. Thus, CD4+ T cell activation and recruitment from tdLNs are hallmarks of early response to anti-PD-L1 plus anti-CTLA4 in HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelie Franken
- Laboratory for Translational Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium; VIB Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Michel Bila
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology (LEO), Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of General Medical Oncology, UZ Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, UZ Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Aurelie Mechels
- Laboratory for Translational Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium; VIB Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Sam Kint
- Laboratory of Reproductive Genomics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium; KU Leuven Institute for Single Cell Omics (LISCO), Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Van Dessel
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, UZ Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | | | - Sebastiaan Vanuytven
- Laboratory of Reproductive Genomics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium; KU Leuven Institute for Single Cell Omics (LISCO), Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Gino Philips
- Laboratory for Translational Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium; VIB Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Orian Bricard
- Laboratory for Translational Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium; VIB Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Jieyi Xiong
- Laboratory for Translational Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium; VIB Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Bram Boeckx
- Laboratory for Translational Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium; VIB Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Sigrid Hatse
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology (LEO), Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of General Medical Oncology, UZ Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Thomas Van Brussel
- Laboratory for Translational Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium; VIB Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Rogier Schepers
- Laboratory for Translational Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium; VIB Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Cedric Van Aerde
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, UZ Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Sarah Geurs
- Laboratory of Reproductive Genomics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium; KU Leuven Institute for Single Cell Omics (LISCO), Leuven 3000, Belgium; Department of Biomolecular Medicine, UZ Ghent, Ghent 9052, Belgium
| | | | - Esther Hauben
- Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Vincent Vander Poorten
- Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Leuven 3000, Belgium; Department of Oncology, Section Head and Neck Oncology, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Sara Verbandt
- Digestive Oncology, KU Leuven, UZ Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Katy Vandereyken
- Laboratory of Reproductive Genomics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium; KU Leuven Institute for Single Cell Omics (LISCO), Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Junbin Qian
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Therapy for Major Gynecological Diseases, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Sabine Tejpar
- Digestive Oncology, KU Leuven, UZ Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Thierry Voet
- Laboratory of Reproductive Genomics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium; KU Leuven Institute for Single Cell Omics (LISCO), Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Paul M Clement
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology (LEO), Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of General Medical Oncology, UZ Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Diether Lambrechts
- Laboratory for Translational Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium; VIB Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven 3000, Belgium; KU Leuven Institute for Single Cell Omics (LISCO), Leuven 3000, Belgium.
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Feng X, Zhang T, Chou J, Patwa HS, Sullivan CA, Browne JD. Y-Chromosome-Linked Genes Are Associated With Sex-Related Head-Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Survival. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2023; 169:1533-1541. [PMID: 37418217 DOI: 10.1002/ohn.421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To define novel gene biomarkers for prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients' survival. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective study. SETTING The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) HNSCC RNA-Seq dataset. METHODS Coexpressed gene clusters were extracted from TCGA RNA-seq data using our previously published method (EPIG). Kaplan-Meier estimator was then used for overall survival-relevant analysis, with patients partitioned into 3 groups based on gene expression levels: female, male_low, and male_high. RESULTS Male had better overall survival than female and male with higher expression level of Y-chromosome-linked (Y-linked) genes had significantly better survival than those with lower expression levels. In addition, male with a higher expression level of Y-linked genes showed even better survival when they have a higher level of coexpressed cluster of genes related to B or T cell immune response. Other clinical conditions related to immune responses also consistently showed favorable effects on the Y-linked genes for survival estimation. Male patients with higher expression level of Y-linked genes also have significantly higher tumor/normal tissue (T/N) ratio of those genes and higher level of several immune responses related clinical measurements (eg, lymphocyte and TCR related). Male patients with lower expression level of Y-linked genes benefited from radiation-only treatment. CONCLUSIONS The favorable role of a cluster of coexpressed Y-linked genes in HNSCC patients' survival is potentially associated with elevated level of immune responses. These Y-linked genes could serve as useful prognostic biomarkers for HNSCC patients' survival estimation and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Feng
- Departments of Otolaryngology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Tan Zhang
- Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jeff Chou
- Center for Cancer Genomics and Precision Oncology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Hafiz S Patwa
- Departments of Otolaryngology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Christopher A Sullivan
- Departments of Otolaryngology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - J Dale Browne
- Departments of Otolaryngology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
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Zamani R, Rezaei N. Immune-scoring in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a scoping review. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2023:1-9. [PMID: 37750738 DOI: 10.1080/1744666x.2023.2262140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) have an increasing incidence, high recurrence, and an overall unfavorable prognosis despite numerous treatment options. The distinct immune landscape of HNSCC suggests a potential for immune-related biomarkers to aid classification and treatment planning. AREAS COVERED Immunoscore, a multiplex measure of tumor-infiltrating immune cells, is currently approved in colorectal carcinoma and is under investigation in various other cancer types. Recent studies have tried to implement the immunoscore and other novel immune cell-based scoring systems in HNSCC as predictors of survival. This study provides an overview of tumor-infiltrating immune cells and their prognostic significance, as well as a comparative summary of studies introducing an immunoscore in HNSCC. EXPERT OPINION With sufficient insight of the current literature, future studies could lead to the definition and validation of a new immune-based classification system for HNSCC. Such a classification strategy could be the basis for patient selection and, thus, optimize treatment outcomes and reduce unwanted complications. The heterogeneity of HNSCC subtypes, as well as the intratumoral variability of immune infiltrates, should be accounted for in the immunoscore.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raha Zamani
- Students' Scientific Research Center (SSRC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Nima Rezaei
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
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Alturki NA. Review of the Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in the Context of Cancer Treatment. J Clin Med 2023; 12:4301. [PMID: 37445336 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12134301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Checkpoint proteins are an integral part of the immune system and are used by the tumor cells to evade immune response, which helps them grow uncontrollably. By blocking these proteins, immune checkpoint inhibitors can restore the capability of the immune system to attack cancer cells and stop their growth. These findings are backed by adequate clinical trial data and presently, several FDA-approved immune checkpoint inhibitors exist in the market for treating various types of cancers, including melanoma, hepatocellular, endometrial, lung, kidney and others. Their mode of action is inhibition by targeting the checkpoint proteins CTLA-4, PD-1, PD-L1, etc. They can be used alone as well as in amalgamation with other cancer treatments, like surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. Since these drugs target only specific immune system proteins, their side effects are reduced in comparison with the traditional chemotherapy drugs, but may still cause a few affects like fatigue, skin rashes, and fever. In rare cases, these inhibitors are known to have caused more serious side effects, such as cardiotoxicity, and inflammation in the intestines or lungs. Herein, we provide an overview of these inhibitors and their role as biomarkers, immune-related adverse outcomes and clinical studies in the treatment of various cancers, as well as present some future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norah A Alturki
- Clinical Laboratory Science Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia
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Ju G, Yao Z, Zhao Y, Zhao X, Liu F. Data mining on identifying diagnosis and prognosis biomarkers in head and neck squamous carcinoma. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10020. [PMID: 37340028 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37216-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSC) induces high cancer-related death worldwide. The biomarker screening on diagnosis and prognosis is of great importance. This research is aimed to explore the specific diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for HNSC through bioinformatics analysis. The mutation and dysregulation data were acquired from UCSC Xena and TCGA databases. The top ten genes with mutation frequency in HNSC were TP53 (66%), TTN (35%), FAT1 (21%), CDKN2A (20%), MUC16 (17%), CSMD3 (16%), PIK3CA (16%), NOTCH1 (16%), SYNE1 (15%), LRP1B (14%). A total of 1,060 DEGs were identified, with 396 up-regulated and 665 downregulated in HNSC patients. Patients with lower expression of ACTN2 (P = 0.039, HR = 1.3), MYH1 (P = 0.005, HR = 1.5), MYH2 (P = 0.035, HR = 1.3), MYH7 (P = 0.053, HR = 1.3), and NEB (P = 0.0043, HR = 1.5) exhibit longer overall survival time in HNSC patients. The main DEGs were further analyzed by pan-cancer expression and immune cell infiltration analyses. MYH1, MYH2, and MYH7 were dysregulated in the cancers. Compared with HNSC, their expression levels are lower in the other types of cancers. MYH1, MYH2, and MYH7 were expected to be the specific diagnostic and prognostic molecular biomarkers of HNSC. All five DEGs have a significant positive correlation with CD4+T cells and macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoyuan Ju
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Zhangyu Yao
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research and, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Yanbin Zhao
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research and, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Xiaotong Zhao
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221000, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Fangzhou Liu
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research and, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China.
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Effectiveness and safety of injectable human papilloma virus vaccine administered as eyedrops. Vaccine 2023; 41:92-100. [PMID: 36402660 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.09.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Mucosal vaccines have the advantages of ease of administration and the induction of strong mucosal immunity and a systemic immune response. Recently, the eye mucosa has been shown to be an effective and safe alternative vaccination route against influenza, Toxoplasma gondii infection, and hemolytic uremic syndrome in mice. In this study, we showed that the commercially available human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine, Cervarix, induced significant immune reactions in terms of anti-HPV antigen (Ag)-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA antibody production following eyedrop (ED) vaccination in mice. The HPV ED vaccines (EDV) provoked no signs of inflammation within 24 h, as indicated by the inflammatory cytokine mRNA levels and infiltration of mononuclear cells in inoculation sites. Moreover, the morphology of the cornea and retina and intraocular pressure of mice did not change after the HPV EDV. The functions of photoreceptor cells, including rod and cone cells, were normal following the HPV EDV inoculation in mice. These results suggest that Cervarix EDV could be a potent, safe, and effective mucosal vaccine against HPV-associated cancers.
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Castellano LRC, Cruz SBSC, Hier M, Bonan PRF, Alaoui-Jamali MA, da Silva SD. Implications and Emerging Therapeutic Avenues of Inflammatory Response in HPV+ Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:5406. [PMID: 36358823 PMCID: PMC9657300 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14215406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are a heterogeneous group of malignancies which have shown exponential incidence in the last two decades especially due to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The HPV family comprises more than 100 types of viruses with HPV16 and HPV18 being the most prevalent strains in HNSCC. Literature data reveal that the mutation profile as well as the response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy are distinct among HPV+ versus HPV-negative tumors. Furthermore, the presence of the virus induces activation of an immune response, in particular the recruitment of specific antiviral T lymphocytes to tumor sites. These T cells when activated produce soluble factors including cytokines and chemokines capable of modifying the local immune tumor microenvironment and impact on tumor response to the treatment. In this comprehensive review we investigated current knowledge on how the presence of an HPV can modify the inflammatory response systemically and within the tumor microenvironment's immunological responses, thereby impacting on disease prognosis and survival. We highlighted the research gaps and emerging approaches necessary to discover novel immunotherapeutic targets for HPV-associated HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lúcio Roberto Cançado Castellano
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery and Lady Davis Institutes for Medical Research of the Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada
- Human Immunology Research and Education Group, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-900, PB, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Dentistry, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-900, PB, Brazil
| | - Sara Brito Silva Costa Cruz
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery and Lady Davis Institutes for Medical Research of the Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada
- Human Immunology Research and Education Group, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-900, PB, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Dentistry, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-900, PB, Brazil
| | - Michael Hier
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery and Lady Davis Institutes for Medical Research of the Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada
| | - Paulo Rogério Ferreti Bonan
- Human Immunology Research and Education Group, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-900, PB, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Dentistry, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-900, PB, Brazil
| | - Moulay A. Alaoui-Jamali
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery and Lady Davis Institutes for Medical Research of the Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada
| | - Sabrina Daniela da Silva
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery and Lady Davis Institutes for Medical Research of the Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada
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Damasio MPS, Nascimento CS, Andrade LM, de Oliveira VL, Calzavara-Silva CE. The role of T-cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: From immunity to immunotherapy. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1021609. [PMID: 36338731 PMCID: PMC9632296 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1021609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) encompass a group of complex entities of tumours affecting the aerodigestive upper tract. The main risk factors are strongly related to tobacco and alcohol consumption, but also HPV infection is often associated. Surgery, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy are the standard treatments, though the 5-year overall survival is less than 50%. The advances in genomics, molecular medicine, immunology, and nanotechnology have shed a light on tumour biology which helps clinical researchers to obtain more efficacious and less toxic therapies. Head and neck tumours possess different immune escape mechanisms including diminishing the immune response through modulating immune checkpoints, in addition to the recruitment and differentiation of suppressive immune cells. The insights into the HNSCC biology and its strong interaction with the tumour microenvironment highlights the role of immunomodulating agents. Recently, the knowledge of the immunological features of these tumours has paved the way for the discovery of effective biomarkers that allow a better selection of patients with odds of improving overall survival through immunotherapy. Specially biomarkers regarding immune checkpoint inhibitors antibodies, such as anti-PD-1/PD-L1 and anti-CTLA-4 in combination with standard therapy or as monotherapy. New immunotherapies to treat head and neck cancer carcinomas, such as CAR T cells and nanoparticles have been the center of attention and in this review, we discuss the necessity of finding targets for the T cell in the cancer cells to generate CAR T cells, but also the relevance of evaluating specificity and safety of those therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Paulo S. Damasio
- Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Camila Sales Nascimento
- Grupo de pesquisa em Imunologia Celular e Molecular, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Rene Rachou, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Lidia M. Andrade
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Departamento de Física, Nanobiomedical Research Group, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Vivian L. de Oliveira
- Universidade Federal do ABC, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratório de Imunologia, LIM19, Instituto do Coração (InCor), Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carlos Eduardo Calzavara-Silva
- Grupo de pesquisa em Imunologia Celular e Molecular, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Rene Rachou, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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FDCSP Is an Immune-Associated Prognostic Biomarker in HPV-Positive Head and Neck Squamous Carcinoma. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12101458. [PMID: 36291667 PMCID: PMC9599724 DOI: 10.3390/biom12101458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSC) poses a major threat to human life. The role of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the initiation and progression of HNSC is becoming more widely accepted. HPV-positive (HPV+) HNSC has shown unique responses to cancer therapies, which may be due to differences in immune cell infiltration. It is critical to determine how the immune responses to HPV in HNSC are regulated. Methods: Transcriptome data of HNSC from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were analyzed. Then, the CIBERSORT algorithm was used to calculate immune cell infiltration in HNSC. FDCSP expression level was detected by qPCR in the HNSC tissues collected from the Nanfang Hospital. Results: Follicular dendritic cell secreted protein (FDCSP) was highly expressed in HPV+ HNSC, and higher expression of FDSCP was associated with a favorable prognosis. In HPV+ HNSC samples, FDCSP significantly increased the proportion of T follicular helper cells (TFHs). FDCSP expression was also found to be associated with TP53 mutation status in HPV+ HNSC. The function of FDCSP was intimately connected to chemokine pathways, particularly with the C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 13 (CXCL13). We verified that the high expression of FDCSP in HPV+ HNSC and higher FDCSP is closely related to prognosis in HNSC samples we collected by qPCR. Conclusions: Collectively, these findings may provide fresh evidence that FDCSP is a potential chemokine-associated prognostic biomarker in HPV+ HNSC.
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Galizia D, Minei S, Maldi E, Chilà G, Polidori A, Merlano MC. How Risk Factors Affect Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) Tumor Immune Microenvironment (TIME): Their Influence on Immune Escape Mechanisms and Immunotherapy Strategy. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10102498. [PMID: 36289760 PMCID: PMC9599463 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10102498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Most head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are caused by lifestyle, such as cigarette smoking, or by viruses, such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV). HNSCC remains a clinical challenge, notwithstanding the improvements observed in the past years, involving surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Recurrent/metastatic (R/M) disease represents an unmet clinical need. Immunotherapy has improved the prognosis of a small proportion of these patients, but most still do not benefit. In the last decade, several preclinical and clinical studies have explored the HNSCC tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), identifying important differences between smoking-associated and virus-associated HNSCCs. This review aims to present how different etiologies affect the HNSCC TIME, affecting immune escape mechanisms and sensitivity to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danilo Galizia
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060 Candiolo, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Silvia Minei
- Post-Graduate School of Specialization in Medical Oncology, University of Bari ‘A. Moro’, 70120 Bari, Italy
- Division of Medical Oncology, A.O.U. Consorziale Policlinico di Bari, 70120 Bari, Italy
| | - Elena Maldi
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060 Candiolo, Italy
| | - Giovanna Chilà
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060 Candiolo, Italy
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Tosi A, Parisatto B, Menegaldo A, Spinato G, Guido M, Del Mistro A, Bussani R, Zanconati F, Tofanelli M, Tirelli G, Boscolo-Rizzo P, Rosato A. The immune microenvironment of HPV-positive and HPV-negative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: a multiparametric quantitative and spatial analysis unveils a rationale to target treatment-naïve tumors with immune checkpoint inhibitors. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2022; 41:279. [PMID: 36123711 PMCID: PMC9487049 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02481-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are approved for treatment of recurrent or metastatic oropharyngeal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in the first- and second-line settings. However, only 15–20% of patients benefit from this treatment, a feature increasingly ascribed to the peculiar characteristics of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Methods Immune-related gene expression profiling (GEP) and multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) including spatial proximity analysis, were used to characterize the TIME of 39 treatment-naïve oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC) and the corresponding lymph node metastases. GEP and mIF results were correlated with disease-free survival (DFS). HPV-positive tumors disclosed a stronger activation of several immune signalling pathways, as well as a higher expression of genes related to total tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, CD8 T cells, cytotoxic cells and exhausted CD8 cells, than HPV-negative patients. Accordingly, mIF revealed that HPV-positive lesions were heavily infiltrated as compared to HPV-negative counterparts, with a higher density of T cells and checkpoint molecules. CD8+ T cells appeared in closer proximity to tumor cells, CD163+ macrophages and FoxP3+ cells in HPV-positive primary tumors, and related metastases. In HPV-positive lesions, PD-L1 expression was increased as compared to HPV-negative samples, and PD-L1+ tumor cells and macrophages were closer to PD-1+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Considering the whole cohort, a positive correlation was observed between DFS and higher levels of activating immune signatures and T cell responses, higher density of PD-1+ T cells and their closer proximity to tumor cells or PD-L1+ macrophages. HPV-positive patients with higher infiltration of T cells and macrophages had a longer DFS, while CD163+ macrophages had a negative role in prognosis of HPV-negative patients. Conclusions Our results suggest that checkpoint expression may reflect an ongoing antitumor immune response. Thus, these observations provide the rationale for the incorporation of ICI in the loco-regional therapy strategies for patients with heavily infiltrated treatment-naïve OPSCC, and for the combination of ICI with tumor-specific T cell response inducers or TAM modulators for the “cold” OPSCC counterparts. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-022-02481-4.
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