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Poster Presentation
Assessment of the tumor immune-environment in patients with head and neck cancer
  1. Zipei Feng1,2,3,
  2. Daniel Bethmann4,
  3. Matthias Kappler5,
  4. Carmen Ballesteros-Merino1,2,3,
  5. Alexander Eckert4,
  6. R Bryan Bell3,5,
  7. Allen Cheng3,5,
  8. Tuan Bui2,3,
  9. Rom Leidner2,3,
  10. Carlo Bifulco2,3,
  11. Claudia Wickenhauser4,
  12. Bernard A Fox2 and
  13. Barbara Seliger4
  1. Aff1 Robert W. Franz Cancer Research Center Portland Oregon USA
  2. Aff2 grid.415286.c0000 0004 0463 5556Earle A. Chiles Research Institute Portland Oregon USA
  3. Aff3 grid.415337.7Providence Cancer Center Portland Oregon USA
  4. Aff4 grid.6363.00000000122184662Martin Luther University Halle-WittenbergInstitute of Pathology Halle Germany
  5. Aff5 Head & Neck Institute Portland OR USA

https://doi.org/10.1186/2051-1426-3-S2-P86

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    Meeting abstracts

    Background

    Assessment of tumor-infiltrating immune cells using immunohistochemistry (IHC) has been shown to be a powerful way to predict patient prognosis, notably in colon cancer [1, 2]. Similar observations were made in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), where T cell infiltration is associated with prolonged survival[3,4]. More recently, efforts in multiplex imaging were made to address suppressive mechanisms within the tumor microenvironment and how they impact the overall anti-tumor immune response. We hypothesize that the implications of such work can direct immunotherapy treatment strategies.

    Purpose

    Apply multiplex immunohistochemistry of HNSCC samples in order to identify immune biomarkers that correlate with prognosis and to further explore whether relationship analysis provides insights into tumor resistance mechanisms.

    Methods

    30 samples from Providence Cancer Center and 80 samples from Halle Medical Center are included in this study. The majority of these samples are HPV negative. Slides were prepared from formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) samples of patients' primary tumor and stained for CD3, CD8, FoxP3, CD163, PD-L1, Cytokeratin and DAPI using the PerkinElmer Opal system. Digital imaging and analysis were done using PerkinElmer Vectra and inform software. Conventional IHC was performed for analysis of the HLA class I antigen processing machinery (APM) using antibodies directed against HLA class I heavy chain, b2-microglobulin and the transporter associated with antigen processing subunits TAP1 and TAP2.

    Results

    Preliminary data from 50 HPV- samples indicated an extremely heterogeneous expression of HLA class I APM components in the HNSCC tumor lesions, which is currently associated with disease progression and immune cell infiltration. In addition, a CD3+/CD8-/FoxP3- immune infiltrate at the invasive margin was highly predictive of survival (p=0.001). Interestingly, a FoxP3+ infiltrate at the invasive margin was also highly predictive of survival (p=0.001). Current studies are evaluating the potential relationships between these two cell populations, as well as their relationship with the tumor immune escape phenotype and with other cells in the tumor environment.

    Conclusion

    Preliminary conclusions from our small cohort suggest a strong association between infiltrates of CD3+CD8-cells and increased survival. Interestingly, expression of FoxP3 by these cells did not negatively impact patient prognosis.

    Author's Contribution

    ZF and Dr. Bethmann; and Drs. Fox and Seliger contributed equally to this work. Supported by the Harder Family, Lynn and Jack Loacker, Robert W. Franz, Wes and Nancy Lematta, the Providence Medical Foundation and the OMSF (RBB, CBB, BAF).