Comparative analysis of immune infiltrates in head and neck cancers across anatomical sites.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The response rate to immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) receptor is 13%-18% for patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Detailed understanding of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) is crucial in order to explain and improve this response rate. HNSCCs arise at various anatomical locations including the oral cavity, hypopharynx, larynx and oropharynx. Studies directly comparing immune infiltration between anatomical sites are scarce. Since the distinct locations could drive deviating microenvironments, we questioned whether the immune composition varies across these HNSCC sites.

Methods

Here, we characterized the TIME of 76 fresh tumor specimens using flow cytometry and performed s

SUBMITTER: Muijlwijk T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10806653 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature