Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Studying the Effects of Tumor-Secreted Paracrine Ligands on Macrophage Activation using Co-Culture with Permeable Membrane Supports
07:44

Studying the Effects of Tumor-Secreted Paracrine Ligands on Macrophage Activation using Co-Culture with Permeable Membrane Supports

Published on: November 28, 2019

Tumor-Associated Macrophages Suppress HNSCC Motility and Reveal BOP1 as a Prognostic Driver

Xingyu Mu1, Guile Zhao1, Yufei Hua1

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases.

The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery
|June 5, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Tumor-associated macrophages surprisingly inhibit head and neck cancer cell movement by downregulating BOP1. High BOP1 expression predicts advanced cancer and poor immunity, suggesting it as a therapeutic target.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Cancer Biology

Background:

  • Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is aggressive.
  • Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) often promote cancer but their role in HNSCC is complex.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of TAMs in HNSCC.
  • To identify molecular mechanisms underlying TAM function in HNSCC.
  • To evaluate BOP1 as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in HNSCC.

Main Methods:

  • Coculture assays of TAMs and HNSCC cells.
  • Transcriptomic profiling to identify key genes.
  • Loss-of-function studies (gene silencing).
  • Analysis of clinical HNSCC patient cohorts.

Main Results:

  • TAMs suppressed HNSCC cell migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).
  • Block of proliferation 1 (BOP1) was downregulated by TAMs and its silencing mimicked TAM effects.
  • High BOP1 expression correlated with advanced HNSCC stage, poor survival, and reduced CD8+ T cells.

Conclusions:

  • TAMs exhibit a tumor-restraining role in HNSCC by inhibiting motility and EMT.
  • BOP1 is an oncogenic driver promoting HNSCC progression and immune evasion.
  • BOP1 is a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for HNSCC.
Keywords:
BOP1epithelial-mesenchymal transitionhead and neck squamous cell carcinomaimmune evasionprognosistumor-associated macrophages

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