Prognostic impact of expression of Bcl-2 and Bax genes in circulating immune cells derived from patients with head and neck carcinoma

The Association of TP53, BCL2, BAX and NOXA SNPs and Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Development

Head and neck cancer is the seventh leading cancer diagnosis worldwide. One of the most common cancers in the head and neck region is laryngeal cancer. In past years, the incidence of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma has risen by 23%, and despite progress in treatment modalities, the survival rate has not changed. It is well known that genetic alterations may contribute to individuals' susceptibility to cancer. Research of genetic alterations, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms, is essential to understanding carcinogenesis and susceptibility of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. A total of 200 LSCC patients and 200 controls were included in this retrospective case-control study; both groups were matched by age and sex. In the present study, we analyzed six SNPs in genes essential for apoptosis regulation: TP53 (rs9895829, rs17884306), BCL2 (rs1564483, rs4987855), BAX (rs704243), NOXA (PMAIP1) (rs1041978, rs78800940). We evaluated their associations with the risk of LSCC development, its pathomorphological manifestation, and patients' overall survival rate. Genotyping was carried out using RT-PCR. The AG genotype of rs9895829 was more prevalent in controls than in cancer patients, leading to lower susceptibility to LSCC (OR = 0.301; 95%CI 0.096-0.940; p = 0.039). None of the analyzed SNPs showed an association with pathomorphological features of LSCC, but NOXA rs1041978 T allele carriers were found to be diagnosed with LSCC at an older age (OR = 1.962; 95%CI 1.072-3.592; p = 0.031). There was no statistically significant association between investigated SNPs and patient OS. The present study indicates that the AG genotype of rs9895829 provides a protective effect against LSCC development.

Biomarkers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: unraveling the path to precision immunotherapy

Recent strides in understanding the molecular underpinnings of head and neck cancers have sparked considerable interest in identifying precise biomarkers that can enhance prognostication and enable personalized treatment strategies. Immunotherapy has particularly revolutionized the therapeutic landscape for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, offering new avenues for treatment. This review comprehensively examines the application and limitations of the established and emerging/novel biomarkers for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Established biomarkers, including well-characterized genetic mutations, protein expressions, and clinical factors, have been extensively studied and validated in clinical practice. Novel biomarkers identified through molecular analyses, including novel genetic alterations, immune-related markers, and molecular signatures, are currently being investigated and validated in preclinical and clinical settings. Biomarkers hold the potential to deepen our understanding of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma biology and guide therapeutic strategies. The evolving paradigm of predictive biomarkers facilitates the study of individual responses to specific treatments, including targeted therapy and immunotherapy.

The Intensity of Blood Lymphocyte Apoptosis in Chronically Exposed Individuals with Obligate Forms of Precancerous Conditions

We studied the apoptotic death of peripheral blood lymphocytes in individuals chronically exposed to radiation with a history of obligate forms of precancerous conditions. The study included 242 subjects chronically exposed to low-intensity radiation in the range of low and medium doses (mean dose of irradiation of the red bone marrow 555±39 mGy). Of these, 121 subjects had obligate forms of precancerous conditions. In irradiated individuals with obligate forms of precancers, a statistically significant increase in the frequency of apoptosis of peripheral blood lymphocytes at an early and late stages was revealed. Correlation analysis revealed no dependence of the apoptotic death of peripheral blood lymphocytes on the dose of red bone marrow irradiation.

Immunopotentiation effects of apigenin on NK cell proliferation and killing pancreatic cancer cells

Apigenin is a kind of flavonoid with many beneficial biological effects. It not only has direct cytotoxicity to tumor cells, but also can boost the antitumor effect of immune cells by modulating immune system. The purpose of this study was to investigate the proliferation of NK cells treated with apigenin and its cytotoxicity to pancreatic cancer cells in vitro, and explore its potential molecular mechanism. In this study, the effect of apigenin on NK cell proliferation and killing pancreatic cancer cells were measured by CCK-8 assay. Perforin, granzyme B (Gran B), CD107a, and NKG2D expressions of NK cells induced with apigenin were detected by flow cytometry (FCM). The mRNA expression of Bcl-2, Bax and protein expression of Bcl-2, Bax, p-ERK, and p-JNK in NK cells were evaluated by qRT-PCR and western blotting analysis, respectively. The results showed that appropriate concentration of apigenin could significantly promote the proliferation of NK cells in vitro and enhance the killing activity of NK cells against pancreatic cancer cells. The expressions of surface antigen NKG2D and intracellular antigen perforin and Gran B of NK cells were upregulated after treating with apigenin. Bcl-2 mRNA expression was increased, while Bax mRNA expression was decreased. Similarly, the expression of Bcl-2, p-JNK, and p-ERK protein was upregulated, and the expression of Bax protein was downregulated. The molecular mechanism of the immunopotentiation effects of apigenin may be that it up-regulates Bcl-2 and down-regulates Bax expression at the gene and protein levels to facilitate NK cell proliferation, and up-regulates the expression of perforin, Gran B, and NKG2D through the activation of JNK and ERK pathways to enhance NK cell cytotoxicity.

Expression and clinical significance of miR-17-5p in tumor tissues of patients with colorectal cancer

Background

At present, there is a lack of novel biomarkers for the early diagnosis and targeted therapy of colorectal cancer (CRC). The current study investigated the expression of miR-17-5p in colorectal tumors and adjacent tissues, and examined the effects of miR-17-5p on the cellular growth of the colon cancer cell line HCT-116.

Methods

A total of 30 paired tissue specimens were obtained from patients with CRC who were admitted to the Department of General Surgery V of the First Affiliated Hospital, Gannan Medical College between December 2019 and January 2021. The clinical information for the corresponding patients was collated. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was performed to detect the expression of miR-17-5p in tumor tissues and the paracancerous tissues. The relationship between miR-17-5p and clinicopathology was analyzed. The CRC cell line HCT-116 was transfected with miR-17-5p mimics and inhibitors using liposomes. The effects of miR-17-5p on cell proliferation, invasion and migration, and apoptosis were determined using colon formation assays, transwell and scratch assays, and flow cytometry, respectively. The effects of miR-17-5p on CD44 (homing cell adhesion molecule), MMP2 (matrix metalloproteinase 2), BCL2 (B-cell lymphoma-2), BAX (BCL2-associated X), and E-cadherin protein and gene expression were investigated using Western blot and RT-qPCR, respectively.

Results

MiR-17-5p expression was higher in tumor tissues compared to the normal adjacent tissues. While miR-17-5p expression levels were unrelated to age nor gender, they were related to the degree of differentiation, stage, lymph node metastasis, and tumor size in patients with CRC. Upregulation of miR-17-5p promoted CRC cell proliferation, metastasis, and invasion, while inhibiting apoptosis. However, downregulation of miR-17-5p had the opposite effect. Furthermore, miR-17-5p upregulation increased E-cadherin, CD44, MMP2, and BCL2 expression while decreasing BAX expression, whereas miR-17-5p downregulation had the opposite effect.

Conclusions

MiR-17-5p is highly expressed in tumor tissues and correlates with increased proliferation, invasion, and migration, as well as reduced apoptosis in HCT-116 cells. Indeed, miR-17-5p may be a potential indicator for the early diagnosis of CRC and may guide clinical targeted therapy.

A signature of 13 autophagy‑related gene pairs predicts prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Growing evidences suggest that autophagy plays a momentous part in the tumorigenesis and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, there are not many researches to predict the prognosis of HCC using autophagy-related genes. Therefore, based on the clinical information and RNA-Seq data of The Cancer Genome Atlas data portal (TCGA), 13 autophagy‑related gene pairs were screened to build the autophagy‑related signature to predict the prognosis by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis. Besides, the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) cohort was further applied to verify the autophagy‑related prognostic signature. Gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were also used to predict the relevant function of the autophagy-related gene pairs signature. As shown in the results, the autophagy-related gene pairs were mainly involved in process utilizing autophagic mechanism, autophagy, macroautophagy and cellular response to oxidative stress. The immune cell levels in the high-risk and low-risk group were explored, which showed that the three immune cells were obviously increased in the high-risk group, while the five immune cells were obviously increased in the low-risk group. In conclusion, an autophagy‑related prognostic signature was established to predict the prognosis of HCC patients with great accuracy and we found that autophagy‑related prognostic signature was related to infiltrating immune cells.

Evaluation of lymphocyte apoptosis in patients with oral cancer

Objectives

To evaluate apoptotic levels of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and apoptotic regulatory proteins (Bax and Bcl-2) in lymphocyte subsets of oral cancer (OC) patients and healthy controls (HC).

Methodology

The percentage of apoptotic cells and lymphocyte counts were measured in the first cohort using PBMCs obtained from 23 OC patients and 6 HC. In the second cohort, (OC, 33; HC, 13), the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of Bax and Bcl-2 in CD19⁺ B, CD4⁺ T, CD8⁺ T, and CD16⁺56⁺ natural killer (NK) cells was determined via flow cytometry.

Results

The percentage of apoptotic cells was higher in the PBMCs of OC patients than in HC patients, particularly in patients with stage IV cancer (p<0.05). However, lymphocyte counts were significantly lower in stage IV patients (p<0.05). NK CD19⁺ B and CD16⁺56⁺ cell counts were significantly lower in OC patients compared with HC patients (p<0.001 and p<0.01, respectively), but CD4⁺ T cells were interestingly significantly higher in OC patients (p<0.001). While Bax MFI was slightly higher, Bcl-2 MFI was significantly lower for all four lymphocyte subsets in OC samples, particularly in stage IV patients, when compared with HC. Consequently, Bax/Bcl-2 ratios showed an upward trend from HC to OC patients, particularly those in stage IV. We found similar trends in Bax and Bcl-2 MFI for tumor stage, tumor size, and lymph node involvement.

Conclusions

The increased lymphocyte apoptosis in stage IV OC patients may be related to higher Bax levels and lower Bcl-2 levels. The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in lymphocytes may be useful to determine the prognosis of OC patients, and could be considered a mean for supportive treatment in the future.

Predicting transition from oral pre-malignancy to malignancy via Bcl-2 immuno-expression: Evidence and lacunae

Bcl-2 (B cell Lymphoma -2) family comprises of both anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic proteins whose altered expression or change in ratio inhibits apoptosis, and promotes tumor progression. The aim of this study is to assess the usefulness of Bcl-2 in distinguishing dysplastic or malignant epithelium from non-dysplastic or normal epithelium to aid in prediction of malignant transformation potential.

Material and method

Study group comprised of 30 cases of clinically diagnosed leukoplakia (OPMD), 15 cases of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) and 5 normal tissue samples. The labeling index of Bcl-2 was analyzed in immunohistochemically stained sections. Different statistical tools were used to analyze the data and to compare Bcl-2 expression qualitatively and quantitatively among all the groups.

Results

An increasing trend of Bcl-2 immunoexpression was observed from normal epithelium to non-dysplastic and from non-dysplastic to dysplastic lesions. In OSCC, the peripheral cells in the differentiating epithelial islands (within the connective tissue) showed Bcl-2 immuno-reactivity, which gradually decreased towards the center. In contrast, intense and diffuse Bcl-2 immuno-reactivity was seen in poorly differentiated carcinoma. But the overall Bcl-2 positivity was less in OSCC as compared to dysplastic lesions.

Conclusion

Increased expression of Bcl-2 oncoprotein in sequentially progressing epithelial dysplasia and down-regulation in differentiating carcinoma (well and moderately differentiating OSCC) unveils the clinical relevance of Bcl-2 in early stages of OSCC tumorigenesis. The heterogenous expression of Bcl-2 in carcinoma with different grades of differentiation renders them unable to be used as an independent tool for predicting transition from oral pre-malignancy to malignancy.

Apoptosis-related gene expression can predict the response of ovarian cancer cell lines to treatment with recombinant human TRAIL alone or combined with cisplatin

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were to determine the sensitivity of ovarian cancer (OC) cell lines (TOV-21G and SKOV-3) to cisplatin and to the recombinant human TRAIL (rhTRAIL), and to evaluate the expression profile of TNFRSF10B, TNFRSF10C, TP53TG5, MDM2, BAX, BCL-2 and CASPASE-8 genes and their participation in the resistance/susceptibility mechanism of these tumor cell lines.

METHODS

To determine the IC50 values associated with Cisplatin and rhTRAIL, inhibition of cell growth was observed using MTT assays in two human OC cell lines (SKOV-3 and TOV-21G). The analysis of gene expression was performed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

RESULTS

Both cell lines had different susceptibility profiles to the tested drugs. In the SKOV-3 cell line, the IC50 values for cisplatin and for rhTRAIL were 270.83 ug/mL and 196.5 ng/mL, respectively. The same concentrations were used for TOV-21G. Different gene expression profiles were observed in each tested cell line. CASPASE-8 and TNFRSF10B expression levels could predict the response of both the cell lines to rhTRAIL alone or the response to a combination of rhTRAIL and cisplatin. In addition, we observed a relationship between BCL-2 and BAX expression that may be helpful in estimating the proliferation rate of the OC cell lines.

CONCLUSION

SKOV-3 and TOV-21G respond differently to cisplatin and rhTRAIL exposure, and expression of CASPASE-8 and TNFRSF10B are good predictors of responses to these treatments.

In silico identification of critical proteins associated with learning process and immune system for Down syndrome

Understanding expression levels of proteins and their interactions is a key factor to diagnose and explain the Down syndrome which can be considered as the most prevalent reason of intellectual disability in human beings. In the previous studies, the expression levels of 77 proteins obtained from normal genotype control mice and from trisomic Ts65Dn mice have been analyzed after training in contextual fear conditioning with and without injection of the memantine drug using statistical methods and machine learning techniques. Recent studies have also pointed out that there may be a linkage between the Down syndrome and the immune system. Thus, the research presented in this paper aim at in silico identification of proteins which are significant to the learning process and the immune system and to derive the most accurate model for classification of mice. In this paper, the features are selected by implementing forward feature selection method after preprocessing step of the dataset. Later, deep neural network, gradient boosting tree, support vector machine and random forest classification methods are implemented to identify the accuracy. It is observed that the selected feature subsets not only yield higher accuracy classification results but also are composed of protein responses which are important for the learning and memory process and the immune system.

Postnatal changes in the development of rat submandibular glands in offspring of diabetic mothers: Biochemical, histological and ultrastructural study

Development and maturation of submandibular salivary glands are influenced by intrauterine diabetic environment. Several studies investigated the effects of diabetes on the salivary glands. However, the effects of maternal diabetes on the submandibular glands of the offspring was not properly examined. Therefore, the present study was designed to describe the changes in the development of the submandibular glands of the offspring of diabetic mothers. The submandibular glands of the offspring of Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic female rats were examined at two and four weeks after birth. Detection of mRNA demonstrated that maternal diabetes affects the level of different indicators. The reduction of expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF); a protein mitogen, cytokeratin 5 (CK5); an epithelial cell progenitor, CK7 and aquaporin 5 (AQP5); differentiation markers and B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2); an antiapoptotic marker were found. Increase in Bcl2-associated X protein (Bax); an apoptotic marker was detected. These changes indicate their effects on saliva secretion, glands tumorigenesis, growth of normal oral flora and oral microbes, with decreased protein synthesis and production of xerostomia and dental caries. Loss of normal glandular architecture, significant increase in fibrosis, by the detection of collagen fibers, and stagnation of secretory granules were found with atrophic changes in the acinar cells. Marked defect of polysaccharides in the acinar cells, denoting functional changes, was manifested by significant reduction of the intensity of periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reaction. The positive immunoreactivity of caspase-3, denoting cellular apoptosis, and minimal reaction of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α SMA) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were evident in the offspring of diabetic mothers. We conclude that maternal diabetes produces degenerative effects in the structure and function of the submandibular salivary glands of the offspring, reflecting possible influences on their secretory activity affecting oral and digestive health.

TT-1, an analog of melittin, triggers apoptosis in human thyroid cancer TT cells via regulating caspase, Bcl-2 and Bax

Melittin is a 26 amino acid residue antimicrobial peptide with known antitumor activity. In the present study, a novel peptide TT-1, derived from melittin and contained only 11 amino acids, was designed, and its antitumor effect was investigated. The present study is aimed to elucidate the effects and relative mechanisms of TT-1 on a human thyroid cancer cell line (TT) in vitro and in vivo. Cell viability assays, Annexin V/propidium iodide assays, western blotting and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction were performed. Furthermore, a tumor-xenograft model was established to investigate the apoptotic mechanisms of TT-1 on TT cells. The results obtained indicated that TT-1 was able to suppress the proliferation of TT cells and exhibited low cytotoxicity to normal thyroid cells in vitro. The apoptotic rates of TT cells were also increased following TT-1 treatment. Additionally, TT-1 stimulated caspase-3, caspase-9 and Bax, and inhibited B-cell lymphoma 2 mRNA and protein expression. Finally, it was also demonstrated that TT-1 is able to markedly suppress tumor growth in a TT-bearing nude mouse model. In summary, TT-1 may inhibit the proliferation of TT cells by inducing apoptosis in vitro and in vivo, indicating that TT-1 may be a potential candidate for the treatment of thyroid cancer.

Serum starvation-induces down-regulation of Bcl-2/Bax confers apoptosis in tongue coating-related cells in vitro

Tongue squamous epithelial cells are the main component of tongue coating, with proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis being the root cause of the formation and maintenance of tongue coating. The present study aimed to explore the molecular mechanism by which serum influences tongue coating, to enable a better understanding for future investigations. Tongue carcinoma squamous cells were exposed to serum‑starvation in vitro. Cellular proliferation and apoptosis were observed by using 3‑[4,5‑dimethyl‑2‑thiazolyl]‑2,5‑diphenyl‑2‑H‑tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, flow cytometry, Hoechst staining, scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and by measuring the expression ratio of B‑cell lymphoma 2 apoptosis regulator (Bcl‑2)/Bcl‑2 associated protein X apoptosis regulator (Bax) mRNA and protein by reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‑qPCR) and western blotting, respectively. MTT assays revealed that serum‑starvation results in suppression of cellular proliferation, while flow cytometry data revealed that serum‑starvation induces cell cycle arrest at G1 phase and increases apoptosis. In addition, chromatin condensation and membrane blebbing were observed through Hoechst staining, TEM and SEM. The Bcl‑2/Bax ratio was found to be significantly decreased in cells that had undergone serum‑starvation by both RT‑qPCR and western blotting analysis, further indicating that serum‑starvation induces apoptosis. Therefore, tongue carcinoma squamous cells in a serum‑free medium can simulate apoptosis related to the formation of tongue coating, which may offer guidance for future investigations about other factors.

Prognostic significance of interleukin-8 and CD163-positive cell-infiltration in tumor tissues in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

Purpose

We investigated whether serum interleukin (IL)-8 reflects the tumor microenvironment and has prognostic value in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Experimental Design

Fifty OSCC patients who received radical resection of their tumor(s) were enrolled. Preoperative sera were measured for IL-8 by ELISA. Expression of IL-8 and the infiltration of immune cells in tumor tissues were analyzed by an immunohistochemical staining of surgical specimens.

Results

We found that disease-free survival (DFS) was significantly longer in the Stage I/II OSCC patients with low serum IL-8 levels compared to those with high levels (p = 0.001). The tumor expression of IL-8, i.e., IL-8(T) and the density of CD163-positive cells in the tumor invasive front, i.e., CD163(IF) were correlated with the serum IL-8 level (p = 0.033 and p = 0.038, respectively), and they were associated with poor clinical outcome (p = 0.007 and p = 0.002, respectively, in DFS) in all patients. A multivariate analysis revealed that N status, IL-8(T) and CD163(IF) significantly affected the DFS of the patients. Further analysis suggested that combination of N status with serum IL-8, IL-8(T) or CD163(IF) may be a new criterion for discriminating between OSCC patients at high and low risk for tumor relapse. Interestingly, the in vitro experiments demonstrated that IL-8 enhanced generation of CD163-positive M2 macrophages from peripheral blood monocytes, and that the cells produced IL-10.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that IL-8 may be involved in poor clinical outcomes via generation of CD163-positive M2 macrophages, and that these factors in addition to N status may have prognostic value in patients with resectable OSCSS.

Cancer subclonal genetic architecture as a key to personalized medicine

The future of personalized oncological therapy will likely rely on evidence-based medicine to integrate all of the available evidence to delineate the most efficacious treatment option for the patient. To undertake evidence-based medicine through use of targeted therapy regimens, identification of the specific underlying causative mutation(s) driving growth and progression of a patient's tumor is imperative. Although molecular subtyping is important for planning and treatment, intraclonal genetic diversity has been recently highlighted as having significant implications for biopsy-based prognosis. Overall, delineation of the clonal architecture of a patient's cancer and how this will impact on the selection of the most efficacious therapy remain a topic of intense interest.

Autoimmunity as a double agent in tumor killing and cancer promotion

Cancer immunotherapy through manipulation of the immune system holds great potential for the treatment of human cancers. However, recent trials targeting the negative immune regulators cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4, programed death 1 (PD-1), and PD-1 receptor ligand (PD-L1) demonstrated that clinically significant antitumor responses were often associated with the induction of autoimmune toxicity. This finding suggests that the same immune mechanisms that elicit autoimmunity may also contribute to the destruction of tumors. Given the fact that the immunological identity of tumors might be largely an immunoprivileged self, autoimmunity may not represent a wholly undesirable outcome in the context of cancer immunotherapy. Rather, targeted killing of cancer cells and autoimmune damage to healthy tissues may be intricately linked through molecular mechanisms, in particular inflammatory cytokine signaling. On the other hand, since chronic inflammation is a well-recognized condition that promotes tumor development, it appears that autoimmunity can be a "double agent" in mediating either pro-tumor or antitumor effects. This review surveys the tumor-promoting and tumoricidal activities of several prominent cytokines: IFN-γ, TNF-α, TGF-β, IL-17, IL-23, IL-4, and IL-13, produced by three major subsets of T helper cells that interact with innate immune cells. Many of these cytokines exert divergent and seemingly contradictory effects on cancer development in different human and animal models, suggesting a high degree of context dependence in their functions. We hypothesize that these inflammatory cytokines could mediate a feedback loop of autoimmunity, antitumor immunity, and tumorigenesis. Understanding the diverse and paradoxical roles of cytokines from autoimmune responses in the setting of cancer will advance the long-term goal of improving cancer immunotherapy, while minimizing the hazards of immune-mediated tissue damage and the possibility of de novo tumorigenesis, through proper monitoring and preventive measures.

Immunochemoradiotherapy for patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma: augmentation of OK-432-induced helper T cell 1 response by 5-FU and X-ray irradiation

Eighty-one patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) received oral fluoropyrimidine UFT and radiotherapy (RT) with or without an immunotherapeutic agent OK-432. Both overall survival and progression-free survival of patients who received RT + UFT + OK-432 were significantly longer than those of patients who received RT + UFT (P = .0075 and P = .0175, respectively). Clinical response was also more favorable in RT + UFT + OK-432 group than in RT + UFT group (P = .0066). Next, in vitro experiments were conducted to examine the effect of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and X-ray irradiation in OK-432-induced immunity. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with OK-432 produced helper T cell 1 (Th1)-type cytokines as well as interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), which are produced by Th2 and regulatory T cells (Tregs), respectively, and are inhibitory in antitumor immunity. OK-432-induced IL-10 and TGF-β but not Th1 cytokines were significantly inhibited by 5-FU and/or X-ray. 5-FU and X-ray also inhibited the expression of mRNAs for GATA-3 and Foxp3, which are transcription factors for Th2 and Tregs, respectively, but not for T-bet, a transcription factor for Th1. In addition, 5-FU and X-ray decreased the expression of mRNAs for suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) and SOCS3. Antisense oligonucleotides for SOCS1 and SOCS3 markedly reduced OK-432-induced IL-10 and TGF-β. This is the first report clearly demonstrating that OK-432-based immunotherapy significantly enhanced the therapeutic effects of chemoradiotherapy in patients with OSCC as well as elucidating the mechanism of the synergistic effect of immunochemoradiotherapy in which 5-FU and radiation enhanced OK-432-induced Th1 response mediated by the inhibition of SOCS1 and SOCS3 gene expression.