Local immune parameters as potential predictive markers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients receiving induction chemotherapy and cetuximab.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine whether tumor-associated immune cells may predict response to therapy and disease outcome in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients receiving induction chemotherapy and cetuximab. Paraffin-embedded pretreatment biopsy samples from 45 patients with stage III-IV resectable HNSCC were investigated retrospectively by immunohistochemistry for density of different immune cell types based on expression of CD8, FOXP3, CD134, CD137, PD-1, CD20, NKp46, dendritic cell lysosomal-associated membrane protein (DC-LAMP), CD16, CD68, and myeloperoxidase. Results were analyzed for possible correlations with clinicopathologic parameters, response to therapy, and survival. Of the immune cell types studied, we found significant association with response to induction chemotherapy only in the case of DC-LAMP+ mature dendritic cells and PD-1+ lymphocytes; density of DC-LAMP+ cells also correlated with progression-free survival. DC-LAMP+ mature dendritic cells and PD-1+ cells may be implicated in response to induction chemotherapy and cetuximab in HNSCC patients.