EGFR Inhibition by Cetuximab Modulates Hypoxia and IFN Response Genes in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

ABSTRACT: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has one of the most hypoxic and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments (TME) among solid tumors. However, there is no proven therapeutic strategy to remodel the TME to be less hypoxic and proinflammatory. In this study, we classified tumors according to a Hypoxia-Immune signature, characterized the immune cells in each subgroup, and analyzed the signaling pathways to identify a potential therapeutic target that can remodel the TME. We confirmed that hypoxic tumors had significantly higher numbers of immunosuppressive cells, as evidenced by a lower ratio of CD8⁺ T cells to FOXP3⁺ regulatory T cells, compared with nonhypoxic tumors. Patients with hypoxic tumors had worse outcomes after treatment with pembrolizumab or nivo

SUBMITTER: Chaudhary R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10202124 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature