Stress Keratin 17 Expression in Head and Neck Cancer Contributes to Immune Evasion and Resistance to Immune-Checkpoint Blockade.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

We investigated whether in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) high levels of expression of stress keratin 17 (K17) are associated with poor survival and resistance to immunotherapy.

Experimental design

We investigated the role of K17 in regulating both the tumor microenvironment and immune responsiveness of HNSCC using a syngeneic mouse HNSCC model, MOC2. MOC2 gives rise to immunologically cold tumors that are resistant to immune-checkpoint blockade (ICB). We engineered multiple, independent K17 knockout (KO) MOC2 cell lines and monitored their growth and response to ICB. We also measured K17 expression in human HNSCC of patients undergoing ICB.

Results

MOC2 tumors were found to express K17 at high levels. When knocked out for K17 (K17KO MOC2)

SUBMITTER: Wang W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9250640 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature