HLA class II expression on tumor cells and low numbers of tumor-associated macrophages predict clinical outcome in oropharyngeal cancer

Author(s):
Cioni, B.; Jordanova, E.S.; Hooijberg, E.; Linden, R. van der; Menezes, R.X. de; Tan, K.; Willems, S.; Elbers, J.B.W.; Broeks, A.; Bergman, A.M.; Zuur, C.L.; Boer, J.P. de
Published
2018
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor

Abstract

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal squamous cellcarcinoma (OPSCC) is a highly immunogenic tumor and differences in tumor microen-vironment might contribute to the improved survival of HPV-positive OPSCC patient.Methods: A comprehensive multivariate analysis with clinical and immune vari-ables (human leukocyte antigen [HLA] I/II, programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1),programmed death receptor 1 (PD1), T cells, and macrophages) was performed in142 OPSCC patients.Results: We found an inverse correlation between the expression of HLA class II mole-cules on tumor cells and CD68+ CD163+ tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). HighHLA-DP/DQ/DR expression and low number of TAMs were associated with longerdisease-specific survival and disease-free survival (DFS). Furthermore, a new populationof CD8+ FoxP3+ T cells was correlated with shorter DFS in multivariate analysis.Conclusions: \We identified new prognostic markers for patients with oropharyngealcancer, which can be used for selecting patients that can benefit from immunotherapy.

Date issued
2018
Language
English
Is part of
Head and Neck (2018), Vol. 41, p. 463-478
hdl
1887/4107231
doi
10.1002/hed.25442