Lymphocyte Infiltration Determines the Hypoxia-Dependent Response to Definitive Chemoradiation in Head-and-Neck Cancer: Results from a Prospective Imaging Trial.

ABSTRACT: Tumor hypoxia in head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) leads to an immunosuppressive microenvironment and reduces the response to radiotherapy. In this prospective imaging trial, we investigated potential interactions between functional hypoxia imaging and infiltrating lymphocyte levels as a potential predictor for treatment response in HNSCC patients. Methods: In total, 49 patients receiving definitive chemoradiation for locally advanced HNSCCs underwent pretherapeutic biopsies and peritherapeutic hypoxia imaging using ¹⁸F-misonidazole PET at weeks 0, 2, and 5 during chemoradiation. Hematoxylin-eosin and immunohistochemical stainings for tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, tissue-based hypoxia, and microvascular markers were analyzed and correlated with the longitudi

SUBMITTER: Nicolay NH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8049369 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature