Focusing on tumor and it's microenvironmental immune members for head and neck cancer patients

Immune-related gene expression levels in the tumor microenvironment (TM) of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients was compared.

The CD163, CD274, CD86, FUT4, FOXP3, and ITGAX levels of HNSCC patients in their tumor tissues (n =76) and surrounding tissues adjacent to the tumor (n =76) were determined using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Changes in these genes were also evaluated by associating with demographical data of the patients.

CD163, CD274, FUT4, and FOXP3 gene expression levels were significantly higher in tumor tissue than in surrounding tissue. FUT4 fold change was statistically higher in patients with lymph node involvement. CD86 expression was statistically lower in smokers of 50 boxes per year or more. CD163, CD274, and FUT4 expressions were increased in response to the presence of extranodal extension (ENE).

These preliminary results demonstrate the alterations in expression levels of immunologic markers are associated with the clinical presentations of HNSCC.

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.