TY - JOUR
T1 - The Immune Microenvironment in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
T2 - on Subsets and Subsites
AU - Wondergem, Niels E.
AU - Nauta, Irene H.
AU - Muijlwijk, Tara
AU - Leemans, C. Rene
AU - van de Ven, Rieneke
PY - 2020/8/1
Y1 - 2020/8/1
N2 - Purpose: To understand why some patients respond to immunotherapy but many do not, a clear picture of the tumor microenvironment (TME) of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is key. Here we review the current understanding on the immune composition per HNSCC subsite, the importance of the tumor’s etiology and the prognostic power of specific immune cells. Recent Findings: Large cohort data are mostly based on deconvolution of transcriptional databases. Studies focusing on infiltrate localization often entail small cohorts, a mixture of HNSCC subsites, or focus on a single immune marker rather than the interaction between cells within the TME. Summary: Conclusions on the prognostic impact of specific immune cells in HNSCC are hampered by the use of heterogeneous or small cohorts. To move forward, the field should focus on deciphering the immune composition per HNSCC subsite, in powered cohorts and considering the molecular diversity in this disease.
AB - Purpose: To understand why some patients respond to immunotherapy but many do not, a clear picture of the tumor microenvironment (TME) of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is key. Here we review the current understanding on the immune composition per HNSCC subsite, the importance of the tumor’s etiology and the prognostic power of specific immune cells. Recent Findings: Large cohort data are mostly based on deconvolution of transcriptional databases. Studies focusing on infiltrate localization often entail small cohorts, a mixture of HNSCC subsites, or focus on a single immune marker rather than the interaction between cells within the TME. Summary: Conclusions on the prognostic impact of specific immune cells in HNSCC are hampered by the use of heterogeneous or small cohorts. To move forward, the field should focus on deciphering the immune composition per HNSCC subsite, in powered cohorts and considering the molecular diversity in this disease.
KW - HNSCC subsites
KW - Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
KW - Innate and adaptive immune system
KW - Prognosis
KW - Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes
KW - Tumor microenvironment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85087115024&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-020-00938-3
DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-020-00938-3
M3 - Review article
C2 - 32602047
SN - 1523-3790
VL - 22
JO - Current oncology reports
JF - Current oncology reports
IS - 8
M1 - 81
ER -