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Ryan N, Lamenza F, Shrestha S, Upadhaya P, Springer A, Jordanides P, Pracha H, Roth P, Kumar R, Wang Y, Vilgelm AE, Satoskar A, Oghumu S. Host derived macrophage migration inhibitory factor expression attenuates anti-tumoral immune cell accumulation and promotes immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2024; 1870:167345. [PMID: 38992847 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a significant public health concern worldwide. Immunomodulatory targets in the HNSCC tumor microenvironment are crucial to enhance the efficacy of HNSCC immunotherapy. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that has been linked to poor prognosis in many cancers, but the mechanistic role of MIF in HNSCC remains unclear. Using a murine orthotopic oral cancer model in Mif+/+ or Mif-/- mice, we determined the function of host derived MIF in HNSCC tumor development, metastasis as well as localized and systemic tumor immune responses. We observed that Mif-/- mice have decreased tumor growth and tumor burden compared to their wild-type counterparts. Flow cytometric analysis of immune populations within the primary tumor site revealed increased Th1 and cytotoxic T cell recruitment to the HNSCC tumor microenvironment. Within the tumors of Mif-/- mice, MIF deletion also enhanced the effector function of anti-tumoral effector CD8+ T cells as well as Th1 cells and decreased the accumulation of granulocytic myeloid derived suppressor cells (g-MDSCs) in the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, MDSCs isolated from tumor bearing mice chemotactically respond to MIF in a dose dependent manner. Taken together, our results demonstrate a chemotactic and immunomodulatory role for host derived MIF in promoting HNSCC and suggest that MIF targeted immunomodulation is a promising approach for HNSCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Ryan
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; College of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH 44272, USA
| | - Felipe Lamenza
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Suvekshya Shrestha
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Puja Upadhaya
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Anna Springer
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Pete Jordanides
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Hasan Pracha
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Peyton Roth
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Rathan Kumar
- Department of Hematology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medial Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Yinchong Wang
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Anna E Vilgelm
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Abhay Satoskar
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Steve Oghumu
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
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Majumder M, Janakiraman H, Chakraborty P, Vijayakumar A, Mayhue S, Yu H, Dincman T, Martin R, O’Quinn E, Mehrotra S, Palanisamy V. RNA-binding protein HuR reprograms immune T cells and promotes oral squamous cell carcinoma. ORAL ONCOLOGY REPORTS 2024; 10:100296. [PMID: 38681116 PMCID: PMC11044901 DOI: 10.1016/j.oor.2024.100296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Hu Antigen R, also known as ELAVL1 (HuR), is a key posttranscriptional regulator in eukaryotic cells. HuR overexpression promotes several malignancies, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, its immune dysfunction-associated tumorigenesis pathways remain unknown. We examined HuR's effects on oral malignancies and immune cell function in vitro and in vivo using oral carcinoma cells and transgenic HuR knockout (KO) mice. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated HuR deletion in mice syngeneic oral cancer cells eliminated colony formation and tumor development. HuR-KO tumors had a lower tumor volume, fewer CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells, and more CD8+ T cells, suggesting that HuR may suppress the immune response during oral cancer progression. In contrast, HuR KO oral epithelial tissues are resistant to 4NQO-induced oral malignancies compared to control tumor-bearing mice. HuR KO mice showed fewer Tregs and greater IFN levels than WT tumor-bearing mice, suggesting anticancer activity. Finally, the HuR inhibitor pyrvinium pamoate lowers tumor burden by enhancing CD8+ infiltration at the expense of CD4+, suggesting anticancer benefits. Thus, HuR-dependent oral neoplasia relies on immunological dysfunction, suggesting that decreasing HuR may boost antitumor potential and offer a novel HNSCC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Sari Mayhue
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, USA
| | - Hong Yu
- Oral Health Sciences, College of Dental Medicine, USA
| | - Toros Dincman
- Department of Haematology and Oncology, College of Medicine, USA
| | - Romeo Martin
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Elizabeth O’Quinn
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | | | - Viswanathan Palanisamy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, USA
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
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Zhu X, Heng Y, Zhang D, Tang D, Zhou J, Lin H, Ma J, Ding X, Tao L, Lu L. Prognostic significance and immune escape implication of tumor-infiltrating neutrophil plasticity in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Hum Cell 2024; 37:714-728. [PMID: 38358636 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-024-01024-7] [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: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Tumor-infiltrating neutrophils play a crucial role in the progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Here, we aimed to statistically quantify the plasticity of HNSCC-infiltrating N2/N1 neutrophils and examine its impacts on survival and immune infiltration landscape. A retrospective study of 80 patients who underwent curative surgical resection for HNSCC between 2014 and 2017 was conducted in this study. HNSCC-infiltrating neutrophil phenotypes were classified using immunofluorescence staining, and the N2/N1 neutrophil plasticity was evaluated via the ratio of N2/N1 neutrophils. We then assessed the correlations between N2/N1 neutrophil plasticity, clinicopathological characteristics, and immune infiltration landscape using rigorous statistical methods. Infiltration variations of N1 and N2 neutrophils were observed between the tumor nest (TN) and tumor stroma (TS), with TN exhibiting higher N2 neutrophil infiltration and lower N1 neutrophil infiltration. High ratios of N2/N1 neutrophils were correlated with advanced TNM stage, large tumor size and invasion of adjacent tissue. High infiltration of N2 neutrophils was associated with decreased overall and relapse-free survival, which were opposite for N1 neutrophils. The independent prognostic role of N2/N1 neutrophil plasticity, particularly within the TN region, was confirmed by multivariate analyses. Moreover, the ratio of N2/N1 neutrophils within the TN region showed correlations with high CD8+ T cells infiltration and low FOXP3+ Tregs infiltration. We identify HNSCC-infiltrating N2/N1 neutrophil plasticity as a crucial prognostic indictor which potentially reflects the tumor microenvironment (TME) and immune escape landscape within HNSCC tissues. Further investigations and validations may provide novel therapeutic strategies for personalized immunomodulation in HNSCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoke Zhu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Shanghai Key Clinical Disciplines of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye Ear Nose and Throat Hospital, Fudan University, 83 Fenyang Road, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Heng
- Department of Otolaryngology, Shanghai Key Clinical Disciplines of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye Ear Nose and Throat Hospital, Fudan University, 83 Fenyang Road, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China
| | - Duo Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Shanghai Key Clinical Disciplines of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye Ear Nose and Throat Hospital, Fudan University, 83 Fenyang Road, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China
| | - Di Tang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Shanghai Key Clinical Disciplines of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye Ear Nose and Throat Hospital, Fudan University, 83 Fenyang Road, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Zhou
- Department of Otolaryngology, Shanghai Key Clinical Disciplines of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye Ear Nose and Throat Hospital, Fudan University, 83 Fenyang Road, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China
| | - Hanqing Lin
- Department of Otolaryngology, Shanghai Key Clinical Disciplines of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye Ear Nose and Throat Hospital, Fudan University, 83 Fenyang Road, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingyu Ma
- Department of Otolaryngology, Shanghai Key Clinical Disciplines of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye Ear Nose and Throat Hospital, Fudan University, 83 Fenyang Road, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuping Ding
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Tao
- Department of Otolaryngology, Shanghai Key Clinical Disciplines of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye Ear Nose and Throat Hospital, Fudan University, 83 Fenyang Road, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China.
| | - Liming Lu
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, People's Republic of China.
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Gkountana GV, Wang L, Giacomini M, Hyytiäinen A, Juurikka K, Salo T, Al-Samadi A. IDO1 correlates with the immune landscape of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a study based on bioinformatics analyses. FRONTIERS IN ORAL HEALTH 2024; 5:1335648. [PMID: 38736462 PMCID: PMC11082366 DOI: 10.3389/froh.2024.1335648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCCs) is a common cancer type with a high mortality rate and poor prognosis. Recent studies have focused on the role of immune checkpoints in HNSCC progression and in their potential use as prognostic markers and immunotherapeutic candidates. Some immune checkpoints, such as PD-1 and PD-L1, have been studied thoroughly in HNSCC. Other molecules, such as indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1), have been investigated minimally. Methods IDO1 expression, prognostic potential, and association with the immune profile of HNSCC were explored using online databases, including GEPIA, UALCAN, TIMER2.0, cBioPortal, and LinkedOmics, which utilize TCGA datasets and are freely available for use. For validation purposes, seven pairs of primary and metastatic HNSCC were immunostained for IDO1. Results Our analysis revealed significantly higher expression of IDO1 in HNSCC, especially in HPV+ SCCs compared with healthy control tissue. However, IDO1 expression showed weak to no prognostic potential for overall and disease-free survival in HNSCC. IDO1 expression in HNSCC was positively correlated with several immune-related molecules, including most of the immune checkpoints. Additionally, GO enrichment analysis revealed that several immune-related pathways are positively correlated with IDO1 expression in HNSCC, such as response to type I interferon and lymphocyte-mediated immunity pathways. Finally, IDO1 expression positively correlated with infiltration of most of the immune cells in HNSCC, such as CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, M1 and M2 macrophages, dendritic cells, and B cells. Conclusion IDO1 expression is closely correlated with the immune profile of the HNSCC. This observation should be explored further to elucidate the potential of targeting IDO1 as a novel immunotherapeutic approach for HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Vasiliki Gkountana
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Clinicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Translational Immunology Research Program (TRIMM), Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lezhou Wang
- Research Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Martina Giacomini
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Clinicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Aini Hyytiäinen
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Clinicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Translational Immunology Research Program (TRIMM), Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Krista Juurikka
- Research Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Tuula Salo
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Clinicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Translational Immunology Research Program (TRIMM), Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Research Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Ahmed Al-Samadi
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Clinicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Translational Immunology Research Program (TRIMM), Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Institute of Dentistry, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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Hong Q, Ding S, Xing C, Mu Z. Advances in tumor immune microenvironment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A review of literature. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e37387. [PMID: 38428879 PMCID: PMC10906580 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000037387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Squamous cell carcinoma is seen as principal malignancy of head and neck. Tumor immune microenvironment plays a vital role in the occurrence, development and treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The effect of immunotherapy, in particular, is closely related to tumor immune microenvironment. This review searched for high-quality literature included within PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus using the keywords "head and neck cancers," "tumor microenvironment" and "immunotherapy," with the view to summarizing the characteristics of HNSCC immune microenvironment and how various subsets of immune cells promote tumorigenesis. At the same time, based on the favorable prospects of immunotherapy having been shown currently, the study is committed to pinpointing the latest progress of HNSCC immunotherapy, which is of great significance in not only further guiding the diagnosis and treatment of HNSCC, but also conducting its prognostic judgement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qichao Hong
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Hainan General Hospital (Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University), Haikou, China
| | - Shun Ding
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Chengliang Xing
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Zhonglin Mu
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
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Hamada M, Inaba H, Nishiyama K, Yoshida S, Yura Y, Matsumoto‐Nakano M, Uzawa N. Transcriptomic analysis of Porphyromonas gingivalis-infected head and neck cancer cells: Identification of PLAU as a candidate prognostic biomarker. J Cell Mol Med 2024; 28:10.1111/jcmm.18167. [PMID: 38363001 PMCID: PMC10870695 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18167] [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: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Periodontal disease is a risk factor for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and Porphyromonas gingivalis, a major periodontal pathogen, has been identified as a specific and potentially independent microbial factor that increases the risk of cancer mortality. Gene expression in HNSCC due to P. gingivalis infection and how changes in gene expression affect the prognosis of HNSCC patients are not clarified. When P. gingivalis was cultured with HNSCC cells, it efficiently adhered to these cells and enhanced their invasive ability. A transcriptome analysis of P. gingivalis -infected HNSCC cells showed that genes related to migration, including CCL20, CITED2, CTGF, C8orf44-SGK3, DUSP10, EGR3, FUZ, HBEGF, IL1B, IL24, JUN, PLAU, PTGS2, P2RY1, SEMA7A, SGK1 and SIX2, were highly up- or down-regulated. The expression of up-regulated genes was examined using the expression data of HNSCC patients obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and the expression of 5 genes, including PLAU, was found to be higher in cancer tissue than in solid normal tissue. An analysis of protein-protein interactions revealed that these 5 genes formed a dense network. A Cox regression analysis showed that high PLAU expression levels were associated with a poor prognosis in patients with TCGA-HNSCC. Furthermore, the prognostic impact correlated with tumour size and the presence or absence of lymph node metastasis. Collectively, these results suggest the potential of PLAU as a molecular prognostic marker in HNSCC patients. Further in vivo and in vitro studies are needed to verify the findings of this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masakazu Hamada
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Oncology and SurgeryOsaka University Graduate School of Dentistry
| | - Hiroaki Inaba
- Department of Pediatric DentistryOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Kyoko Nishiyama
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Oncology and SurgeryOsaka University Graduate School of Dentistry
| | - Sho Yoshida
- Department of Pediatric DentistryOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Yoshiaki Yura
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Oncology and SurgeryOsaka University Graduate School of Dentistry
| | - Michiyo Matsumoto‐Nakano
- Department of Pediatric DentistryOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Narikazu Uzawa
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Oncology and SurgeryOsaka University Graduate School of Dentistry
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Constantin M, Chifiriuc MC, Mihaescu G, Vrancianu CO, Dobre EG, Cristian RE, Bleotu C, Bertesteanu SV, Grigore R, Serban B, Cirstoiu C. Implications of oral dysbiosis and HPV infection in head and neck cancer: from molecular and cellular mechanisms to early diagnosis and therapy. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1273516. [PMID: 38179168 PMCID: PMC10765588 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1273516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the sixth most common type of cancer, with more than half a million new cases annually. This review focuses on the role of oral dysbiosis and HPV infection in HNCs, presenting the involved taxons, molecular effectors and pathways, as well as the HPV-associated particularities of genetic and epigenetic changes and of the tumor microenvironment occurred in different stages of tumor development. Oral dysbiosis is associated with the evolution of HNCs, through multiple mechanisms such as inflammation, genotoxins release, modulation of the innate and acquired immune response, carcinogens and anticarcinogens production, generation of oxidative stress, induction of mutations. Thus, novel microbiome-derived biomarkers and interventions could significantly contribute to achieving the desideratum of personalized management of oncologic patients, regarding both early diagnosis and treatment. The results reported by different studies are not always congruent regarding the variations in the abundance of different taxons in HNCs. However, there is a consistent reporting of a higher abundance of Gram-negative species such as Fusobacterium, Leptotrichia, Treponema, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella, Bacteroidetes, Haemophilus, Veillonella, Pseudomonas, Enterobacterales, which are probably responsible of chronic inflammation and modulation of tumor microenvironment. Candida albicans is the dominant fungi found in oral carcinoma being also associated with shorter survival rate. Specific microbial signatures (e.g., F. nucleatum, Bacteroidetes and Peptostreptococcus) have been associated with later stages and larger tumor, suggesting their potential to be used as biomarkers for tumor stratification and prognosis. On the other hand, increased abundance of Corynebacterium, Kingella, Abiotrophia is associated with a reduced risk of HNC. Microbiome could also provide biomarkers for differentiating between oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers as well as between HPV-positive and HPV-negative tumors. Ongoing clinical trials aim to validate non-invasive tests for microbiome-derived biomarkers detection in oral and throat cancers, especially within high-risk populations. Oro-pharyngeal dysbiosis could also impact the HNCs therapy and associated side-effects of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. HPV-positive tumors harbor fewer mutations, as well as different DNA methylation pattern and tumor microenvironment. Therefore, elucidation of the molecular mechanisms by which oral microbiota and HPV infection influence the HNC initiation and progression, screening for HPV infection and vaccination against HPV, adopting a good oral hygiene, and preventing oral dysbiosis are important tools for advancing in the battle with this public health global challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marian Constantin
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biology of Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, ICUB, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Mariana Carmen Chifiriuc
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, ICUB, Bucharest, Romania
- Microbiology Immunology Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Life, Medical and Agricultural Sciences, Biological Sciences Section, Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Grigore Mihaescu
- Microbiology Immunology Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Corneliu Ovidiu Vrancianu
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, ICUB, Bucharest, Romania
- Microbiology Immunology Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- DANUBIUS Department, National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Elena-Georgiana Dobre
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, ICUB, Bucharest, Romania
- Immunology Department, “Victor Babes” National Institute of Pathology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Roxana-Elena Cristian
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, ICUB, Bucharest, Romania
- DANUBIUS Department, National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Coralia Bleotu
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, ICUB, Bucharest, Romania
- Cellular and Molecular Pathology Department, Ştefan S. Nicolau Institute of Virology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Serban Vifor Bertesteanu
- Coltea Clinical Hospital, ENT, Head & Neck Surgery Department, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Raluca Grigore
- Coltea Clinical Hospital, ENT, Head & Neck Surgery Department, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Bogdan Serban
- University Emergency Hospital, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Catalin Cirstoiu
- University Emergency Hospital, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
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8
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Wang L, Yu X, Li H, Wang C. A novel immune-related prognostic model with surgical status to predict tumor immune cell infiltration and drug sensitivity in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Biochem Biophys Rep 2023; 36:101557. [PMID: 37868302 PMCID: PMC10585349 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2023.101557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TICs) affect tumorigenesis and tumor development in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We constructed a novel predictive model for HNSCC based on immune-related genes (IRGs) from The Cancer Genome Atlas and the Immunology Database and Analysis Portal. After identifying the IRGs, a predictive model involving 13 IRGs with high stratification value of overall survival (OS) was constructed by multiple support vector machine recursive feature elimination and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression. We explored the relationship between the risk score (RS) and clinical characteristics. The nomogram showed high concordance and good agreement in OS. Four TICs affected the OS and were in agreement with the abundance analysis of the RS levels. Furthermore, the low-risk HNSCC group showed higher expression of PD-1, CTLA4, and TIGIT, while the high-risk group showed higher expression of EGFR. The high-risk HNSCC showed high sensitivity to eight drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lang Wang
- Department of Radiology, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610041, PR China
| | - Xianchao Yu
- School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 611731, PR China
| | - Hongwei Li
- Department of Radiology, The Third Hospital of Mianyang, Sichuan Mental Health Center, Mianyang, Sichuan Province, 621000, PR China
| | - Chenglong Wang
- Department of Radiology, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610041, PR China
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9
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Yu X, Xu L, Zhou Y, Zhou X, Yang L, Zhou Y. NUP62CL as an Immunological and Prognostic Biomarker of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. J Inflamm Res 2023; 16:3799-3809. [PMID: 37663758 PMCID: PMC10474866 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s426277] [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: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common head and neck malignancy with a high mortality rate and poor prognosis. The exploration and understanding of biomarkers will help to further improve the diagnosis and treatment of OSCC. Methods Tumor tissue samples from 319 OSCC patients were retrospectively collected, along with their clinical information. In combination with bioinformatics tools and multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) analyses, we evaluated NUP62CL protein expression and its relationship to tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) and immune checkpoints in the tumor microenvironment (TME), as well as its association with clinical features and prognosis of OSCC. Results We identified high-NUP62CL expression in OSCC tissues, and high-NUP62CL protein expression was associated with large tumor size, advanced clinical stage and poor prognosis. In addition, NUP62CL protein expression was positively associated with the abundance of CD3+CD4+ T cells (P<0.01), CD3+CD8+ T cells (P<0.01), CD56+ NK cells (P<0.05), CD68+CD86+ macrophages (P<0.01) and CD68+CD163+ macrophages (P<0.01), as well as the immune checkpoints, including PD-1 (P<0.001), PD-L1 (P<0.001), and CTLA-4 (P<0.001) protein expression. Conclusion In conclusion, NUP62CL could be an effective prognostic and immunological biomarker for OSCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Yu
- Department of Orthodontics and Periodontology, Affiliated Nantong Stomatological Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lijun Xu
- Department of Clinical Biobank & Institute of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University & Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yongqiang Zhou
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated Nantong Stomatological Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaorong Zhou
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lei Yang
- Department of Clinical Biobank & Institute of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University & Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Orthodontics and Periodontology, Affiliated Nantong Stomatological Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, People’s Republic of China
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Zhang Y, Dong P, Yang L. The role of nanotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma by targeting tumor microenvironment. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1189323. [PMID: 37292204 PMCID: PMC10244756 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1189323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) refers to a group of highly malignant and pathogenically complex tumors. Traditional treatment methods include surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. However, with advancements in genetics, molecular medicine, and nanotherapy, more effective and safer treatments have been developed. Nanotherapy, in particular, has the potential to be an alternative therapeutic option for HNSCC patients, given its advantageous targeting capabilities, low toxicity and modifiability. Recent research has highlighted the important role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in the development of HNSCC. The TME is composed of various cellular components, such as fibroblasts, vascular endothelial cells, and immune cells, as well as non-cellular agents such as cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, extracellular matrix (ECM), and extracellular vesicles (EVs). These components greatly influence the prognosis and therapeutic efficacy of HNSCC, making the TME a potential target for treatment using nanotherapy. By regulating angiogenesis, immune response, tumor metastasis and other factors, nanotherapy can potentially alleviate HNSCC symptoms. This review aims to summarize and discuss the application of nanotherapy that targets HNSCC's TME. We highlight the therapeutic value of nanotherapy for HNSCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology/Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, China
| | - Pengbo Dong
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Lu Yang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology/Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, China
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11
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Sun Y, Khan MAAK, Mangiola S, Barrow AD. IL17RB and IL17REL Expression Are Associated with Improved Prognosis in HPV-Infected Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12040572. [PMID: 37111458 PMCID: PMC10143491 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12040572] [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: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Changes in the cellular secretome are implicated in virus infection, malignancy, and anti-tumor immunity. We analyzed the association between transcriptional signatures (TS) from 24 different immune and stromal cell types on the prognosis of HPV-infected and HPV-free head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSCC) patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort. We found that HPV-positive HNSCC patients have tumors with elevated immune cell TS and improved prognosis, which was specifically associated with an increased tumor abundance of memory B and activated natural killer (NK) cell TS, compared to HPV-free HNSCC patients. HPV-infected patients upregulated many transcripts encoding secreted factors, such as growth factors, hormones, chemokines and cytokines, and their cognate receptors. Analysis of secretome transcripts and cognate receptors revealed that tumor expression of IL17RB and IL17REL are associated with a higher viral load and memory B and activated NK cell TS, as well as improved prognosis in HPV-infected HNSCC patients. The transcriptional parameters that we describe may be optimized to improve prognosis and risk stratification in the clinic and provide insights into gene and cellular targets that may potentially enhance anti-tumor immunity mediated by NK cells and memory B cells in HPV-infected HNSCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhan Sun
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3000, Australia
| | - Md Abdullah Al Kamran Khan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3000, Australia
| | - Stefano Mangiola
- Division of Bioinformatics, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia
| | - Alexander David Barrow
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3000, Australia
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12
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Andrade LM, Costa GMJ. Insights into Gold Nanoparticles Possibilities for Diagnosis and Treatment of the Head and Neck Upper Aerodigestive Tract Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15072080. [PMID: 37046740 PMCID: PMC10093449 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15072080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer affecting people and accounts for more than 300,000 deaths worldwide. Improvements in treatment modalities, including immunotherapy, have demonstrated promising prognoses for eligible patients. Nevertheless, the five-year overall survival rate has not increased significantly, and the tumor recurrence ratio remains at 50% or higher, except for patients with HPV-positive HNSCC. Over the last decades, nanotechnology has provided promising tools, especially for biomedical applications, due to some remarkable physicochemical properties of numerous nanomaterials, particularly gold nanoparticles. This review addresses the features and some applications of gold nanoparticles reported in the literature over the last five years regarding the diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancer, highlighting the exciting possibilities of this nanomaterial in oncology. Methods: The scientific papers selected for this review were obtained from the PubMed Advanced, Web of Science, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Google Scholar platforms. Conclusions: Results from papers applying gold nanoparticles have suggested that their application is a feasible approach to diagnostics, prognostics, and the treatment of HNC. Moreover, phase I clinical trials suggest that gold nanoparticles are safe and can potentially become theranostic agents for humans.
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Therapeutic Vaccination in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma—A Review. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11030634. [PMID: 36992219 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11030634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic vaccination is one of the most effective immunotherapeutic approaches, second only to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), which have already been approved for clinical use. Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are heterogenous epithelial tumors of the upper aerodigestive tract, and a significant proportion of these tumors tend to exhibit unfavorable therapeutic responses to the existing treatment options. Comprehending the immunopathology of these tumors and choosing an appropriate immunotherapeutic maneuver seems to be a promising avenue for solving this problem. The current review provides a detailed overview of the strategies, targets, and candidates for therapeutic vaccination in HNSCC. The classical principle of inducing a potent, antigen-specific, cell-mediated cytotoxicity targeting a specific tumor antigen seems to be the most effective mechanism of therapeutic vaccination, particularly against the human papilloma virus positive subset of HNSCC. However, approaches such as countering the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment of HNSCC and immune co-stimulatory mechanisms have also been explored recently, with encouraging results.
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Starska-Kowarska K. The Role of Different Immunocompetent Cell Populations in the Pathogenesis of Head and Neck Cancer-Regulatory Mechanisms of Pro- and Anti-Cancer Activity and Their Impact on Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:1642. [PMID: 36980527 PMCID: PMC10046400 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15061642] [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: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most aggressive and heterogeneous groups of human neoplasms. HNSCC is characterized by high morbidity, accounting for 3% of all cancers, and high mortality with ~1.5% of all cancer deaths. It was the most common cancer worldwide in 2020, according to the latest GLOBOCAN data, representing the seventh most prevalent human malignancy. Despite great advances in surgical techniques and the application of modern combinations and cytotoxic therapies, HNSCC remains a leading cause of death worldwide with a low overall survival rate not exceeding 40-60% of the patient population. The most common causes of death in patients are its frequent nodal metastases and local neoplastic recurrences, as well as the relatively low response to treatment and severe drug resistance. Much evidence suggests that the tumour microenvironment (TME), tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and circulating various subpopulations of immunocompetent cells, such regulatory T cells (CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Tregs), cytotoxic CD3+CD8+ T cells (CTLs) and CD3+CD4+ T helper type 1/2/9/17 (Th1/Th2/Th9/Th17) lymphocytes, T follicular helper cells (Tfh) and CD56dim/CD16bright activated natural killer cells (NK), carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), tumour-associated neutrophils (N1/N2 TANs), as well as tumour-associated macrophages (M1/M2 phenotype TAMs) can affect initiation, progression and spread of HNSCC and determine the response to immunotherapy. Rapid advances in the field of immuno-oncology and the constantly growing knowledge of the immunosuppressive mechanisms and effects of tumour cancer have allowed for the use of effective and personalized immunotherapy as a first-line therapeutic procedure or an essential component of a combination therapy for primary, relapsed and metastatic HNSCC. This review presents the latest reports and molecular studies regarding the anti-tumour role of selected subpopulations of immunocompetent cells in the pathogenesis of HNSCC, including HPV+ve (HPV+) and HPV-ve (HPV-) tumours. The article focuses on the crucial regulatory mechanisms of pro- and anti-tumour activity, key genetic or epigenetic changes that favour tumour immune escape, and the strategies that the tumour employs to avoid recognition by immunocompetent cells, as well as resistance mechanisms to T and NK cell-based immunotherapy in HNSCC. The present review also provides an overview of the pre- and clinical early trials (I/II phase) and phase-III clinical trials published in this arena, which highlight the unprecedented effectiveness and limitations of immunotherapy in HNSCC, and the emerging issues facing the field of HNSCC immuno-oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Starska-Kowarska
- Department of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Clinical Physiology, Medical University of Lodz, Żeligowskiego 7/9, 90-752 Lodz, Poland; ; Tel.: +48-604-541-412
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, EnelMed Center Expert, Drewnowska 58, 91-001 Lodz, Poland
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