HPV-associated head and neck cancer is characterized by distinct profiles of CD8+ T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells

• DOI: 10.1007/s00262-023-03571-8
• Publication Date: 2023-11-29T09:04:10Z
• Authors: Benjamin A. Kansy; Tim P. Wehrs; Kirsten Bruderek; Yu Si; Sonja Ludwig; Freya Droege; Pia Hasskamp; Uta Henkel; Nina Dominas; Thomas K. Hoffmann; Peter A. Horn; Martin Schuler; Thomas C. Gauler; Monika Lindemann; Stephan Lang; Agnes Bankfalvi; Sven Brandau
• Keywords: Myeloid-derived Suppressor Cell

Abstract Patients with HPV − -localized head and neck cancer (HNC) show inferior outcomes after surgery radiochemotherapy compared to HPV-associated cancers. The underlying mechanisms remain elusive, but differences in immune status activity may be implicated. In this study, we analyzed profiles of CD8 + T cells myeloid-derived suppressor (MDSC) versus disease. overall frequency was reduced HNC healthy donors substantially increased curative therapy (surgery and/or radiochemotherapy). patients, increase associated significant induction peripheral blood /CD45RA /CD62L effector memory cells. HPV-antigen-specific low even patients virally tumors dropped background levels therapy. Pre-therapeutic counts circulating monocytic MDSC, not PMN-MDSC, were This accompanied by fractions terminally differentiated showed infiltrates CD45RO tumors. Importantly, frequencies tumor tissue-infiltrating PMN-MDSC increased, while percentages Granzyme B Ki-67 We report relative ratios MDSC more immunogenic Our data provide new insight into the immunological these two entities utilized for tailored immunotherapeutic approaches future.