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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
09:04
Analysis of Human T Cell Activity in an Allogeneic Co-Culture Setting of Pre-Treated Tumor Cells
Published on: March 7, 2025
Single-Cell Profiling Reveals Stromal-Immune Remodeling in HNSCC After TPF-Based Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
Dongliang Wei1,2,3,4,5,6, Yilan Sun1,2,3,4,5,6, Jing Han1,2,3,4,5,6
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Head and Neck Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Head & Neck
|July 24, 2026
Summary
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy alters the head and neck cancer microenvironment. Post-treatment regression areas and residual tumors show distinct fibroblast populations, impacting tumor heterogeneity.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is standard for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
- Tumor regression is common, but post-treatment tumor microenvironment changes are poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cellular and transcriptional changes in the tumor microenvironment after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in tongue cancer.
- To identify distinct features of regression areas versus residual tumor cores.
Main Methods:
- Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed on tumor and paracarcinoma tissues.
- Samples were analyzed from patients undergoing direct surgery and those receiving TPF-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Main Results:
- Distinct cellular features were identified between regression areas and residual tumor cores.
- Regression areas showed more CFD+ fibroblasts, while residual cores had POSTN+ fibroblasts.
- T-cell functional scores did not significantly differ between regions.
Conclusions:
- Tongue squamous cell carcinoma exhibits distinct cellular and transcriptional features in regression areas and residual cores post-chemotherapy.
- These findings suggest regional heterogeneity in the post-treatment tumor microenvironment.
- Larger, spatially resolved studies are needed for validation.
