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Berrell N, Monkman J, Donovan M, Blick T, O'Byrne K, Ladwa R, Tan CW, Kulasinghe A. Spatial resolution of the head and neck cancer tumor microenvironment to identify tumor and stromal features associated with therapy response. Immunol Cell Biol 2024. [PMID: 39048134 DOI: 10.1111/imcb.12811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the seventh most common cancer globally, resulting in 440 000 deaths per year. While there have been advancements in chemoradiotherapy and surgery, relapse occurs in more than half of HNCs, and these patients have a median survival of 10 months and a 2-year survival of < 20%. Only a subset of patients displays durable benefits from immunotherapies in metastatic and recurrent HNC, making it critical to understand the tumor microenvironment (TME) underpinning therapy responses in HNC. To recognize biological differences within the TME that may be predictive of immunotherapy response, we applied cutting-edge geospatial whole-transcriptome profiling (NanoString GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler) and spatial proteomics profiling (Akoya PhenoCycler-Fusion) on a tumor microarray consisting of 25 cores from 12 patients that included 4 immunotherapy-unresponsive (8 cores) and 2 immunotherapy-responsive patients (5 cores), as well as 6 immunotherapy naïve patients (12 cores). Through high-plex, regional-based transcriptomic mapping of the tumor and TME, pathways involved with the complement system and hypoxia were identified to be differentially expressed in patients who went on to experience a poor immunotherapy response. Single-cell, targeted proteomic analysis found that immune cell infiltration of the cancer cell mass and interactions of CD8 T cells with tumor and other immune cells were associated with positive immunotherapy response. The relative abundance of specific tumor phenotypes and their interactions with various immune cells was identified to be different between response groups. This study demonstrates how spatial transcriptomics and proteomics can resolve novel alterations in the TME of HNC that may contribute to therapy sensitivity and resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi Berrell
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Wesley Research Institute, Level 8 East Wing, The Wesley Hospital, Auchenflower, QLD, Australia
| | - James Monkman
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Meg Donovan
- Wesley Research Institute, Level 8 East Wing, The Wesley Hospital, Auchenflower, QLD, Australia
| | - Tony Blick
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Ken O'Byrne
- Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Rahul Ladwa
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Chin Wee Tan
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Bioinformatics Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Arutha Kulasinghe
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Wesley Research Institute, Level 8 East Wing, The Wesley Hospital, Auchenflower, QLD, Australia
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Sadeghirad H, Monkman J, Tan CW, Liu N, Yunis J, Donovan ML, Moradi A, Jhaveri N, Perry C, Adams MN, O'Byrne K, Warkiani ME, Ladwa R, Hughes BGM, Kulasinghe A. Spatial dynamics of tertiary lymphoid aggregates in head and neck cancer: insights into immunotherapy response. J Transl Med 2024; 22:677. [PMID: 39049036 PMCID: PMC11267849 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05409-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) generally has a poor prognosis for patients with limited treatment options. While incorporating immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has now become the standard of care, the efficacy is variable, with only a subset of patients responding. The complexity of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the role of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) have emerged as critical determinants for immunotherapeutic response. METHODS In this study, we analyzed two independently collected R/M HNSCC patient tissue cohorts to better understand the role of TLS in response to ICIs. Utilizing a multi-omics approach, we first performed targeted proteomic profiling using the Nanostring GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler to quantify immune-related protein expression with spatial resolution. This was further characterized by spatially resolved whole transcriptome profiling of TLSs and germinal centers (GCs). Deeper single-cell resolved proteomic profiling of the TLSs was performed using the Akoya Biosciences Phenocycler Fusion platform. RESULTS Our proteomic analysis revealed the presence of T lymphocyte markers, including CD3, CD45, and CD8, expressing cells and upregulation of immune checkpoint marker PD-L1 within tumor compartments of patients responsive to ICIs, indicative of 'hot tumor' phenotypes. We also observed the presence of antigen-presenting cells marked by expression of CD40, CD68, CD11c, and CD163 with upregulation of antigen-presentation marker HLA-DR, in patients responding to ICIs. Transcriptome analysis of TLS and GCs uncovered a marked elevation in the expression of genes related to immune modulation, diverse immune cell recruitment, and a potent interferon response within the TLS structure. Notably, the distribution of TLS-tumor distance was found to be significantly different across response groups (H = 9.28, p = 0.026). The proximity of TLSs to tumor cells was found to be a critical indicator of ICI response, implying that patients with TLSs located further from tumor cells have worse outcomes. CONCLUSION The study underscores the multifaceted role of TLSs in modulating the immunogenic landscape of the TME in R/M HNSCC, likely influencing the efficacy of ICIs. Spatially resolved multi-omics approaches offer valuable insights into potential biomarkers for ICI response and highlight the importance of profiling the TME complexity when developing therapeutic strategies and patient stratification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Habib Sadeghirad
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland, 37 Kent Street, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - James Monkman
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland, 37 Kent Street, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Chin Wee Tan
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland, 37 Kent Street, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
- Bioinformatics Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Ning Liu
- Bioinformatics Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
- South Australian immunoGENomics Cancer Institute, The University of Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Joseph Yunis
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland, 37 Kent Street, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
- Ian Frazer Centre for Children's Immunotherapy Research, Children's Health Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Meg L Donovan
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland, 37 Kent Street, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
- Queensland Spatial Biology Centre, Wesley Research Institute, The Wesley Hospital, Auchenflower, QLD, Australia
| | - Afshin Moradi
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland, 37 Kent Street, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Niyati Jhaveri
- Discovery Applications, Akoya Biosciences, The Spatial Biology Company, Marlborough, MA, USA
| | - Chris Perry
- The Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Mark N Adams
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Ken O'Byrne
- The Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Rahul Ladwa
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland, 37 Kent Street, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
- The Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Brett G M Hughes
- The Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, QLD, Australia
- School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Arutha Kulasinghe
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland, 37 Kent Street, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia.
- Queensland Spatial Biology Centre, Wesley Research Institute, The Wesley Hospital, Auchenflower, QLD, Australia.
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Kirchner J, Plesca I, Rothe R, Resag A, Löck S, Benešová I, Rupp L, Linge A, Wehner R, Krause M, Schmitz M. Type I conventional dendritic cells and CD8 + T cells predict favorable clinical outcome of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1414298. [PMID: 38938577 PMCID: PMC11208331 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1414298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common tumor entities worldwide, with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection contributing to cancer development. Conventional therapies achieve only limited efficiency, especially in recurrent or metastatic HNSCC. As the immune landscape decisively impacts the survival of patients and treatment efficacy, this study comprehensively investigated the immunological tumor microenvironment (TME) and its association with patient outcome, with special focus on several dendritic cell (DC) and T lymphocyte subpopulations. Therefore, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor samples of 56 HNSCC patients, who have undergone resection and adjuvant radiotherapy, were analyzed by multiplex immunohistochemistry focusing on the detailed phenotypic characterization and spatial distribution of DCs, CD8+ T cells, and T-helper cell subsets in different tumor compartments. Immune cell densities and proportions were correlated with clinical characteristics of the whole HNSCC cohort and different HPV- or hypoxia-associated subcohorts. Tumor stroma was highly infiltrated by plasmacytoid DCs and T lymphocytes. Among the T-helper cells and CD8+ T cells, stromal regulatory T cells and intraepithelial exhausted CD8+ T cells expressing programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1+) and/or lymphocyte-activation gene-3 (LAG-3+) were the predominant phenotypes, indicating an immunosuppressive TME. HPV-associated tumors showed significantly higher infiltration of type I and type II conventional DCs (cDC1, cDC2) as well as several CD8+ T cell phenotypes including exhausted, activated, and proliferating T cells. On the contrary, tumors with hypoxia-associated gene signatures exhibited reduced infiltration for these immune cells. By multivariate Cox regression, immune-related prognostic factors were identified. Patient clusters defined by high infiltration of DCs and T lymphocytes combined with HPV positivity or low hypoxia showed significantly prolonged survival. Thereby, cDC1 and CD8+ T cells emerged as independent prognostic factors for local and distant recurrence. These results might contribute to the implementation of an immune cell infiltration score predicting HNSCC patients' survival and such patient stratification might improve the design of future individualized radiochemo-(immuno)therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Kirchner
- OncoRay – National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden – Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ioana Plesca
- Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Institute of Immunology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Rebecca Rothe
- Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Institute of Immunology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Antonia Resag
- Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Institute of Immunology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Steffen Löck
- OncoRay – National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden – Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Iva Benešová
- Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Institute of Immunology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Luise Rupp
- Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Institute of Immunology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Annett Linge
- OncoRay – National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden – Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rebekka Wehner
- Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Institute of Immunology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mechthild Krause
- OncoRay – National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden – Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiooncology – OncoRay, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marc Schmitz
- Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Institute of Immunology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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Pitstick L, Goral J, Ciancio MJ, Meyer A, Pytynia M, Bychek S, Zidan S, Shuey J, Jham BC, Green JM. Effects of folate deficiency and sex on carcinogenesis in a mouse model of oral cancer. Oral Dis 2024; 30:1989-2003. [PMID: 37731277 DOI: 10.1111/odi.14728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate the effects of dietary folate and sex on histopathology of oral squamous cell carcinoma in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS Mice (C57Bl/6, 30/sex) were fed either a deficient folate or sufficient folate diet. Vehicle or 4-nitroquinoline1-oxide (50 μg/mL) in vehicle were administered in drinking water for 20 weeks, followed by 6 weeks of regular drinking water. Oral lesions were observed weekly. Tongues were studied for histopathologic changes. Immunohistochemical techniques were used to measure cell proliferation (Ki67+), and to quantify expression of folate receptor, reduced folate carrier, and proton-coupled folate transporter. T cells, macrophages, and neutrophils were counted and normalized to area. RESULTS All 4NQO-treated mice developed oral tumors. Dietary folate level did not affect tumor burden. More tumors were observed on the ventral aspect of the tongue than in other locations within the oral cavity. 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide-treated mice displayed 27%-46% significantly lower expression of all three folate transport proteins; diet and sex had no effect on folate transporter expression. T-cell and neutrophil infiltration in tongues were 9.1-fold and 18.1-fold increased in the 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide-treated mouse tongues than in controls. CONCLUSION Treatment with 4NQO was the primary factor in determining cancer development, decreased folate transport expression, and lymphoid cell infiltration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenore Pitstick
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, Illinois, USA
| | - Joanna Goral
- Department of Anatomy, College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, Illinois, USA
| | - Mae J Ciancio
- Biomedical Sciences Program, College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, Illinois, USA
| | - Alice Meyer
- Department of Anatomy, College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, Illinois, USA
| | - Matthew Pytynia
- Biomedical Sciences Program, College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, Illinois, USA
| | - Sofia Bychek
- Biomedical Sciences Program, College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, Illinois, USA
| | - Safia Zidan
- Biomedical Sciences Program, College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, Illinois, USA
| | - Jennifer Shuey
- Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, Illinois, USA
| | - Bruno C Jham
- College of Dental Medicine-Illinois, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, Illinois, USA
| | - Jacalyn M Green
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, Illinois, USA
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5
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Sadeghirad H, Yaghoubi Naei V, O'Byrne K, Warkiani ME, Kulasinghe A. In situ characterization of the tumor microenvironment. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2024; 86:103083. [PMID: 38382325 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
The development of new therapies for cancer is underpinned by an increasing need to comprehensively characterize the tumor microenvironment (TME). While traditional approaches have relied on bulk or single-cell approaches, these are limited in their ability to provide cellular context. Deconvolution of the complex TME is fundamental to understanding tumor dynamics and treatment resistance. Spatially resolved characterization of the TME is likely to provide greater insights into the cellular architecture, tumor-immune cell interactions, receptor-ligand interactions, and cell niches. In turn, these aid in dictating the optimal way in which to target each patient's individual cancer. In this review, we discuss a number of cutting-edge in situ spatial profiling methods giving us new insights into tumor biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Habib Sadeghirad
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Vahid Yaghoubi Naei
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ken O'Byrne
- Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Majid E Warkiani
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Arutha Kulasinghe
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
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Jumaniyazova E, Lokhonina A, Dzhalilova D, Kosyreva A, Fatkhudinov T. Role of Microenvironmental Components in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. J Pers Med 2023; 13:1616. [PMID: 38003931 PMCID: PMC10672525 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13111616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) is one of the ten most common malignant neoplasms, characterized by an aggressive course, high recurrence rate, poor response to treatment, and low survival rate. This creates the need for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of the pathogenesis of this cancer. The tumor microenvironment (TME) of HNSCC consists of stromal and immune cells, blood and lymphatic vessels, and extracellular matrix. It is known that HNSCC is characterized by complex relationships between cancer cells and TME components. TME components and their dynamic interactions with cancer cells enhance tumor adaptation to the environment, which provides the highly aggressive potential of HNSCC and resistance to antitumor therapy. Basic research aimed at studying the role of TME components in HNSCC carcinogenesis may serve as a key to the discovery of both new biomarkers-predictors of prognosis and targets for new antitumor drugs. This review article focuses on the role and interaction with cancer of TME components such as newly formed vessels, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and extracellular matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enar Jumaniyazova
- Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, 117198 Moscow, Russia; (A.L.); (A.K.); (T.F.)
| | - Anastasiya Lokhonina
- Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, 117198 Moscow, Russia; (A.L.); (A.K.); (T.F.)
- Avtsyn Research Institute of Human Morphology of FSBSI Petrovsky National Research Centre of Surgery, 3 Tsyurupy Street, 117418 Moscow, Russia
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov of Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 4 Oparina Street, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Dzhuliia Dzhalilova
- Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, 117198 Moscow, Russia; (A.L.); (A.K.); (T.F.)
- Avtsyn Research Institute of Human Morphology of FSBSI Petrovsky National Research Centre of Surgery, 3 Tsyurupy Street, 117418 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna Kosyreva
- Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, 117198 Moscow, Russia; (A.L.); (A.K.); (T.F.)
- Avtsyn Research Institute of Human Morphology of FSBSI Petrovsky National Research Centre of Surgery, 3 Tsyurupy Street, 117418 Moscow, Russia
| | - Timur Fatkhudinov
- Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, 117198 Moscow, Russia; (A.L.); (A.K.); (T.F.)
- Avtsyn Research Institute of Human Morphology of FSBSI Petrovsky National Research Centre of Surgery, 3 Tsyurupy Street, 117418 Moscow, Russia
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Arcovito G, Palomba A, Gallo O, Franchi A. The Histological Background of Recurrence in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: An Insight into the Modifications of Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3259. [PMID: 37370868 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15123259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Recurrent laryngeal carcinoma presents differences from the primary tumor that largely depend on the treatment. In this article, we review the histologic and molecular treatment-induced changes that may affect the diagnosis of recurrent laryngeal carcinoma, the assessment of predictive markers, and the response to treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Radiotherapy induces profound modifications that are strictly related to necrosis of different tissue components, fibrosis, and damage of the tumor vessels. Postradiotherapy recurrent/persistent laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma typically presents a discohesive growth pattern within a fibrotic background associated with significant changes of the tumor immune microenvironment, with both important immunosuppressive and immunostimulatory effects. Overall, the increase of immunoregulatory cells and immune checkpoints such as CTLA-4, TIM-3, PD-1, and PD-L1 induced by radiotherapy and chemotherapy strongly supports the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in recurrent/persistent laryngeal carcinoma. Future studies aiming to identify predictive factors of the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors should consider such treatment-induced modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Arcovito
- Section of Pathology, Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Annarita Palomba
- Unit of Histopathology and Molecular Diagnostic, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Oreste Gallo
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Franchi
- Section of Pathology, Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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Sadeghirad H, Liu N, Monkman J, Ma N, Cheikh BB, Jhaveri N, Tan CW, Warkiani ME, Adams MN, Nguyen Q, Ladwa R, Braubach O, O’Byrne K, Davis M, Hughes BGM, Kulasinghe A. Compartmentalized spatial profiling of the tumor microenvironment in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma identifies immune checkpoint molecules and tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily members as biomarkers of response to immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1135489. [PMID: 37153589 PMCID: PMC10154785 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1135489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are the seventh most common cancer, with approximately 50% of patients living beyond 5 years. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown promising results in patients with recurrent or metastatic (R/M) disease, however, only a subset of patients benefit from immunotherapy. Studies have implicated the tumor microenvironment (TME) of HNSCC as a major factor in therapy response, highlighting the need to better understand the TME, particularly by spatially resolved means to determine cellular and molecular components. Here, we employed targeted spatial profiling of proteins on a cohort of pre-treatment tissues from patients with R/M disease to identify novel biomarkers of response within the tumor and stromal margins. By grouping patient outcome categories into response or non-response, we show that immune checkpoint molecules, including PD-L1, B7-H3, and VISTA, were differentially expressed. Patient responders possessed significantly higher tumor expression of PD-L1 and B7-H3, but lower expression of VISTA. Analysis of response subgroups by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria indicated that tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily members including OX40L, CD27, 4-1BB, CD40, and CD95/Fas, were associated with immunotherapy outcome. OX40L expression in tumor regions was higher in patient-responders than those with progressive disease (PD), while other TNFR members, CD27 and CD95/Fas were lower expressed in patients with a partial response (PR) compared to those with PD. Furthermore, we found that high 4-1BB expression in the tumor compartment, but not in the stroma, was associated with better overall survival (OS) (HR= 0.28, p-adjusted= 0.040). Moreover, high CD40 expression in tumor regions (HR= 0.27, p-adjusted= 0.035), and high CD27 expression in the stroma (HR= 0.2, p-adjusted=0.032) were associated with better survival outcomes. Taken together, this study supports the role of immune checkpoint molecules and implicates the TNFR superfamily as key players in immunotherapy response in our cohort of HNSCC. Validation of these findings in a prospective study is required to determine the robustness of these tissue signatures.
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Zhou F, Shayan G, Sun S, Huang X, Chen X, Wang K, Qu Y, Wu R, Zhang Y, Liu Q, Zhang J, Luo J, Shi X, Liu Y, Liang B, Li YX, Wang J, Yi J. Spatial architecture of regulatory T-cells correlates with disease progression in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1015283. [PMID: 36439177 PMCID: PMC9684321 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1015283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose This study aims to investigate the prognostic value of composition and spatial architecture of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) as well as PDL1 expression on TILs subpopulations in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods A total of 121 patients with NPC were included and divided into two groups: favorable (n = 68) and unfavorable (n = 53). The archived tumor tissues of the included patients were retrieved, and a tissue microarray was constructed. The density and spatial distribution of TILs infiltration were analyzed using the multiplex fluorescent immunohistochemistry staining for CD3, CD4, CD8, Foxp3, cytokeratin (CK), PDL1, and 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). The infiltration density of TILs subpopulations and PDL1 expression were compared between the two groups. The Gcross function was calculated to quantify the relative proximity of any two types of cells. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to identify factors associated with overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Results The densities of regulatory T-cells (Tregs), effector T-cells (Teffs), PDL1+ Tregs, and PDL1+ Teffs were significantly higher in patients with unfavorable outcomes. PDL1 expression on tumor cells (TCs) or overall TILs was not associated with survival. Multivariate analysis revealed that higher PDL1+ Tregs infiltration density was independently associated with inferior OS and DFS, whereas Tregs infiltration density was only a prognostic marker for DFS. Spatial analysis revealed that unfavorable group had significantly stronger Tregs and PDL1+ Tregs engagement in the proximity of TCs and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTLs). Gcross analysis further revealed that Tregs and PDL1+ Tregs were more likely to colocalize with CTLs. Moreover, increased GTC : Treg (Tregs engagement surrounding TCs) and GCTL : PDL1+ Treg were identified as independent factors correlated with poor outcomes. Conclusion TILs have a diverse infiltrating pattern and spatial distribution in NPC. Increased infiltration of Tregs, particularly PDL1+ Tregs, as well as their proximity to TCs and CTLs, correlates with unfavorable outcomes, implying the significance of intercellular immune regulation in mediating disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengge Zhou
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Tumor Research and Therapy Center, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Gulidanna Shayan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Shiran Sun
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaodong Huang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xuesong Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Qu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Runye Wu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Ye Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Qingfeng Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jianghu Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jingwei Luo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xinqi Shi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Liang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Ye-Xiong Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jingbo Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Jingbo Wang, ; Junlin Yi,
| | - Junlin Yi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/ Hebei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Langfang, China
- *Correspondence: Jingbo Wang, ; Junlin Yi,
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10
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Chen XM, Liu YY, Tao BY, Xue XM, Zhang XX, Wang LL, Zhong H, Zhang J, Yang SM, Jiang QQ. NT5E upregulation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A novel biomarker on cancer-associated fibroblasts for predicting immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Front Immunol 2022; 13:975847. [PMID: 36091055 PMCID: PMC9458906 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.975847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite tremendous progress made in the diagnosis and managements, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) remains a global medical dilemma with dismal clinical prognosis and high mortality. Gene NT5E encodes the ecto-5’-nucleotidase (CD73), which facilitates the formation of immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) permissive for tumor progression in various malignancies. Nevertheless, the cell subsets NT5E expressed on and the potential function of NT5E in the TME of HNSC remain virgin lands in HNSC. In this study, we comprehensively performed integrated prognostic analysis and elucidated that NT5E was an independent prognostic indicator for HNSC, for which a high NT5E level predicted poor overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS) and progression-free interval (PFI) in HNSC patients (p<0.05). Enrichment analyses revealed the close correlation between NT5E and ECM remodeling, and the latent function of NT5E may involve in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis during HNSC progression. HNSC-related immune infiltration analysis and single-cell type analysis demonstrated that NT5E expression was significantly positively associated with cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in HNSC (p<0.01). NT5E-related TME analysis revealed that NT5E-high group are characterized by low neoantigen loads (NAL, p<0.001) and tumor mutation burden (TMB, p<0.01), indicating high-NT5E-expression HNSC patients may be recalcitrant to immunotherapy. In-situ multicolor immunofluorescence staining was later conducted and the results further verified our findings. Taken together, NT5E could be a novel biomarker in HNSC. Predominantly expressed on CAFs, the upregulation of NT5E might predict an immunosuppressive TME for HNSC patients who may benefit little from immunotherapy. Targeting CAFs with high NT5E expression might be a novel therapeutic strategy for HNSC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-min Chen
- Medical School of Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Beijing, China
- Senior Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Otolaryngologic Diseases, State Key Lab of Hearing Science, Beijing Key Lab of Hearing Impairment Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Yu-yang Liu
- Medical School of Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Beijing, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Bing-yan Tao
- Medical School of Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Beijing, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xin-miao Xue
- Medical School of Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Beijing, China
- Senior Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Otolaryngologic Diseases, State Key Lab of Hearing Science, Beijing Key Lab of Hearing Impairment Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Xin-xin Zhang
- Senior Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Otolaryngologic Diseases, State Key Lab of Hearing Science, Beijing Key Lab of Hearing Impairment Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Lin-lin Wang
- Senior Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Otolaryngologic Diseases, State Key Lab of Hearing Science, Beijing Key Lab of Hearing Impairment Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Zhong
- Senior Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Otolaryngologic Diseases, State Key Lab of Hearing Science, Beijing Key Lab of Hearing Impairment Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Qing-qing Jiang, ; Shi-ming Yang, ; Jun Zhang,
| | - Shi-ming Yang
- Senior Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Otolaryngologic Diseases, State Key Lab of Hearing Science, Beijing Key Lab of Hearing Impairment Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Qing-qing Jiang, ; Shi-ming Yang, ; Jun Zhang,
| | - Qing-qing Jiang
- Senior Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Otolaryngologic Diseases, State Key Lab of Hearing Science, Beijing Key Lab of Hearing Impairment Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Qing-qing Jiang, ; Shi-ming Yang, ; Jun Zhang,
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11
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Cosoroabă RM, Gaje NP, Ceauşu AR, Dumitru CŞ, Todor L, Popovici RA, Porumb A, Domocoş D, Miron MI, Miron MI. The mast cell reaction in premalignant and malignant lesions of the head and neck. ROMANIAN JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY AND EMBRYOLOGY = REVUE ROUMAINE DE MORPHOLOGIE ET EMBRYOLOGIE 2022; 63:407-411. [PMID: 36374145 PMCID: PMC9804062 DOI: 10.47162/rjme.63.2.11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most frequent and aggressive neoplasms of this anatomical region. Many studies evaluated the neoplastic cells, but few works focused on the tumor microenvironment. In the present study, we investigated the distribution and mast cell density (MCD) in malignant and premalignant lesions of the oral cavity, tongue, pharynx, and larynx. There were analyzed 52 specimens of HNSCC, and 15 biopsies taken from patients with dysplasia. Results were compared with those found in a control group of 10 biopsies of oral mucosa from patients with inflammatory diseases. Slides stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin were used for the histopathological diagnosis and grade, and mast cells (MCs) were identified by immunohistochemistry, using anti-MC tryptase. MCs were counted using a method similar to that proposed for microvessel density. We found a significant increase in the number of MCs from the normal oral mucosa until overt carcinoma. Unlike normal tissues, in HNSCC, many MCs were found between tumor cells. We found no relationship between MCs and blood vessels in the tumor area. A significant statistical correlation was found between dysplastic and malignant tumors, but not between tumors with a different grade. Also, it was not found relationship between MCD and the anatomical location of the tumor. Based on these results, we believe that MCD evaluated by anti-MC tryptase is an independent factor of prognosis and reflects an unfavorable outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raluca Mioara Cosoroabă
- Department of Dental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, Romania; ; Discipline of Management, Legislation and Communication in Dental Medicine, 1st Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara, Romania;
| | - Nela Puşa Gaje
- Department of Microscopic Morphology/Histology, Angiogenesis Research Center Timişoara, Faculty of Medicine, Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara, Romania
| | - Amalia Raluca Ceauşu
- Department of Microscopic Morphology/Histology, Angiogenesis Research Center Timişoara, Faculty of Medicine, Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara, Romania
| | - Cristina Ştefania Dumitru
- Department of Microscopic Morphology/Histology, Angiogenesis Research Center Timişoara, Faculty of Medicine, Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara, Romania
| | - Liana Todor
- Department of Dental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, Romania
| | - Ramona Amina Popovici
- Discipline of Management, Legislation and Communication in Dental Medicine, 1st Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara, Romania
| | - Anca Porumb
- Department of Dental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, Romania
| | - Daniela Domocoş
- Department of Dental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, Romania
| | - Mariana Ioana Miron
- Department 2, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara, Romania
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