Immune escape in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

2014-05-02Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are common and aggressive tumors that have not seen an improvement in survival rates in decades. Despite current standard-of-care treatment, which includes surgical resection with adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy, recurrent and metastatic disease accounts for significant morbidity and mortality. These highly immune-modulatory tumors are believed to evade the immune system through a variety of mechanisms, including the induction of suppressor cell populations, the release of suppressive cytokines, and down-regulation of genes related to antigen presentation. In order to develop new therapies targeting the immune escape of these tumors, there is a need to elucidate further the complex interaction between HNSCC and the host immune system. Pre-clinical models allow investigators to explore this interaction in a controlled environment and to test novel immunotherapeutic drugs. To this end, we have established a novel human cell line, USC-HN2, which was derived from an invasive, recurrent buccal HNSCC and found to have unique immune-modulatory features. In particular, this cell line provides an excellent model for the development of new suppressor cell-targeted immunotherapies for HNSCC. Additionally, we have investigated the immune escape mechanisms in human papillomavirus (HPV)+ versus HPV- HNSCC, with the goal of identifying new targets for immunotherapy. These studies demonstrated a general pattern of increased immunogenicity and concurrent immunosuppression in patients with HPV+ versus HPV- HNSCC that could potentially be used to inform immunotherapy treatment of HNSCC patients