Peripheral cytokine levels differ by HPV status and change treatment-dependently in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Cytokines and immune mediators play an important role in the communication between immune cells guiding their response to infectious diseases or cancer. In this study, a comprehensive longitudinal analysis of serum cytokines and immune mediators in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients was performed. In a prospective, non-interventional, longitudinal study, blood samples from 22 HNSCC patients were taken at defined time points (TP) before, during, and every 3 months after completion of (chemo)radio)therapy (CRT/RT) until 12 months after treatment. Serum concentrations of 17 cytokines/immune mediators and High-Mobility-Group-Protein B1 (HMGB1) were measured by fluorescent bead array and ELISA. Concentrations of sFas were significantly elevated during and after CRT/RT, whereas perforin levels were significantly decreased after CRT/RT. Levels of MIP-1β and Granzyme B differed significantly during CRT/RT by HPV status. Increased HMGB1 levels were observed at recurrence, accompanied by high levels of IL-4 and IL-10. The sFas increase and simultaneous perforin decrease may indicate an impaired immune cell function during adjuvant radiotherapy. Increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in HPV+ compared to HPV− patients seem to reflect the elevated immunogenicity of HPV-positive tumors. High levels of HMGB1 and anti-inflammatory cytokines at recurrence may be interpreted as a sign of immune evasion

Liquid biopsy: an examination of platelet RNA obtained from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients for predictive molecular tumor markers

Aim: Recently, a tumor cell-platelet interaction was identified in different tumor entities, resulting in a transfer of tumor-derived RNA into platelets, named further “tumor-educated platelets (TEP)”. The present pilot study aims to investigate whether such a tumor-platelet transfer of RNA occurs also in patients suffering from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Methods: Sequencing analysis of RNA derived from platelets of tumor patients (TPs) and healthy donors (HDs) were performed. Subsequently, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used for verification of differentially expressed genes in platelets from TPs and HDs in a second cohort of patients and HDs. Data were analyzed by applying bioinformatic tools. Results: Sequencing of RNA derived from the tumor as well as from platelets of TPs and HDs revealed 426 significantly differentially existing RNA, at which 406 RNA were more and 20 RNA less abundant in platelets from TPs in comparison to that of HDs. In TPs’ platelets, abundantly existing RNA coding for 49 genes were detected, characteristically expressed in epithelial cells and RNA, the products of which are involved in tumor progression. Applying bioinformatic tools and verification on a second TP/HD cohort, collagen type I alpha 1 chain (COL1A1) and zinc finger protein 750 (ZNF750) were identified as the strongest potentially platelet-RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq)-based biomarkers for HNSCC. Conclusions: These results indicate a transfer of tumor-derived messenger RNA (mRNA) into platelets of HNSCC patients. Therefore, analyses of a patient’s platelet RNA could be an efficient option for liquid biopsy in order to diagnose HNSCC or to monitor tumorigenesis as well as therapeutic responses at any time and in real time

Prospective longitudinal study of immune checkpoint molecule (ICM) expression in immune cell subsets during curative conventional therapy of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)

Programmed-death-1 (PD1) antibodies are approved for recurrent and metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Multiple drugs targeting costimulatory and coinhibitory immune checkpoint molecules (ICM) have been discovered. However, it remains unknown how these ICM are affected by curative conventional therapy on different immune cell subsets during the course of treatment. In the prospective noninterventional clinical study titled “Immune Response Evaluation to Curative conventional Therapy” (NCT03053661), 22 patients were prospectively enrolled. Blood samples were drawn at defined time points throughout curative conventional treatment and follow-up. Immune cells (IC) from the different time points were assessed by multicolor flow cytometry. The following ICM were measured by flow cytometry: PD1, CTLA4, BTLA, CD137, CD27, GITR, OX40, LAG3 and TIM3. Dynamics of ICM expression were assessed using nonparametric paired samples tests. Significant changes were noted for PD1, BTLA and CD27 on multiple IC types during or after radiotherapy. Nonsignificant trends for increased expression of OX40 and GITR from baseline until the end of RT were observed on CD4 T cells and CD4+ CD39+ T cells. In patients with samples at recurrence of disease, a nonsignificant increase of TIM3 and LAG3 positive CD4+ CD39+ T cells was evident, accompanied by an increase of double positive cells for TIM3/LAG3. Potential future targets to be combined with RT in the conventional treatment and anti-PD1/PD-L could be BTLA agonists, or agonistic antibodies to costimulatory ICM like CD137, OX40 or GITR. The combination of cetuximab with CD27 agonistic antibodies enhancing ADCC or the targeting of TIM3/LAG3 may be another promising strategy

BTK isoforms p80 and p65 are expressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and involved in tumor progression

Here, we describe the expression of Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines as well as in primary HNSCC samples. BTK is a kinase initially thought to be expressed exclusively in cells of hematopoietic origin. Apart from the 77 kDa BTK isoform expressed in immune cells, particularly in B cells, we identified the 80 kDa and 65 kDa BTK isoforms in HNSCC, recently described as oncogenic. Importantly, we revealed that both isoforms are products of the same mRNA. By investigating the mechanism regulating oncogenic BTK-p80/p65 expression in HNSSC versus healthy or benign tissues, our data suggests that the epigenetic process of methylation might be responsible for the initiation of BTK-p80/p65 expression in HNSCC. Our findings demonstrate that chemical or genetic abrogation of BTK activity leads to inhibition of tumor progression in terms of proliferation and vascularization in vitro and in vivo. These observations were associated with cell cycle arrest and increased apoptosis and autophagy. Together, these data indicate BTK-p80 and BTK-p65 as novel HNSCC-associated oncogenes. Owing to the fact that abundant BTK expression is a characteristic feature of primary and metastatic HNSCC, targeting BTK activity appears as a promising therapeutic option for HNSCC patients

The HLA ligandome of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas reveals shared tumour-exclusive peptides for semi-personalised vaccination

Background The immune peptidome of OPSCC has not previously been studied. Cancer-antigen specific vaccination may improve clinical outcome and efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors such as PD1/PD-L1 antibodies. Methods Mapping of the OPSCC HLA ligandome was performed by mass spectrometry (MS) based analysis of naturally presented HLA ligands isolated from tumour tissue samples (n = 40) using immunoaffinity purification. The cohort included 22 HPV-positive (primarily HPV-16) and 18 HPV-negative samples. A benign reference dataset comprised of the HLA ligandomes of benign haematological and tissue datasets was used to identify tumour-associated antigens. Results MS analysis led to the identification of naturally HLA-presented peptides in OPSCC tumour tissue. In total, 22,769 peptides from 9485 source proteins were detected on HLA class I. For HLA class II, 15,203 peptides from 4634 source proteins were discovered. By comparative profiling against the benign HLA ligandomic datasets, 29 OPSCC-associated HLA class I ligands covering 11 different HLA allotypes and nine HLA class II ligands were selected to create a peptide warehouse. Conclusion Tumour-associated peptides are HLA-presented on the cell surfaces of OPSCCs. The established warehouse of OPSCC-associated peptides can be used for downstream immunogenicity testing and peptide-based immunotherapy in (semi)personalised strategies

Analysis of Delphinidin and Luteolin Genotoxicity in Human Lymphocyte Culture

Introduction: Bioflavonoids delphinidin (2-(3,4,5-Trihydroxyphenyl)chromenylium-3,5,7-triol) and luteolin (2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-4-chromenone) have been recognized as promising antioxidants and anticancer substances. Due to their extensive use, the goal of the research was to determine whether they have any genotoxic potential in vitro.Methods: Analysis of genotoxic potential was performed applying chromosome aberrations test in human lymphocyte culture, as this kind of research was not conducted abundantly for these two bioflavonoids. Delphinidin and luteolin were dissolved in DMSO and added to cultures in final concentrations of 25, 50 and 100 μM.Results: In human lymphocytes cultures Delphinidin induced PCDs in all treatments, potentially affecting the cell cycle and topoisomerase II activity. In concentration of 50 μM luteolin showed strong genotoxic effects and caused significant reduction of cell proliferation.Conclusion: Luteolin exhibited certain genotoxic and cytostatic potential. Delphinidin was not considered genotoxic, however its impact on mitosis, especially topoisomerase II activity, was revealed

Analysis of Delphinidin and Luteolin Genotoxicity in Human Lymphocyte Culture

Introduction: Bioflavonoids delphinidin (2-(3,4,5-Trihydroxyphenyl)chromenylium-3,5,7-triol) and luteolin (2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-4-chromenone) have been recognized as promising antioxidants and anticancer substances. Due to their extensive use, the goal of the research was to determine whether they have any genotoxic potential in vitro.Methods: Analysis of genotoxic potential was performed applying chromosome aberrations test in human lymphocyte culture, as this kind of research was not conducted abundantly for these two bioflavonoids. Delphinidin and luteolin were dissolved in DMSO and added to cultures in final concentrations of 25, 50 and 100 μM.Results: In human lymphocytes cultures Delphinidin induced PCDs in all treatments, potentially affecting the cell cycle and topoisomerase II activity. In concentration of 50 μM luteolin showed strong genotoxic effects and caused significant reduction of cell proliferation.Conclusion: Luteolin exhibited certain genotoxic and cytostatic potential. Delphinidin was not considered genotoxic, however its impact on mitosis, especially topoisomerase II activity, was revealed

Peripheral Cytokine Levels Differ by HPV Status and Change Treatment-Dependently in Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Cytokines and immune mediators play an important role in the communication between immune cells guiding their response to infectious diseases or cancer. In this study, a comprehensive longitudinal analysis of serum cytokines and immune mediators in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients was performed. In a prospective, non-interventional, longitudinal study, blood samples from 22 HNSCC patients were taken at defined time points (TP) before, during, and every 3 months after completion of (chemo)radio)therapy (CRT/RT) until 12 months after treatment. Serum concentrations of 17 cytokines/immune mediators and High-Mobility-Group-Protein B1 (HMGB1) were measured by fluorescent bead array and ELISA. Concentrations of sFas were significantly elevated during and after CRT/RT, whereas perforin levels were significantly decreased after CRT/RT. Levels of MIP-1β and Granzyme B differed significantly during CRT/RT by HPV status. Increased HMGB1 levels were observed at recurrence, accompanied by high levels of IL-4 and IL-10. The sFas increase and simultaneous perforin decrease may indicate an impaired immune cell function during adjuvant radiotherapy. Increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in HPV+ compared to HPV− patients seem to reflect the elevated immunogenicity of HPV-positive tumors. High levels of HMGB1 and anti-inflammatory cytokines at recurrence may be interpreted as a sign of immune evasion

Antibody responses to cancer antigens identify patients with a poor prognosis among HPV-positive and HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients

Purpose: The identification of high-risk patients within Human Papillomavirus (HPV) positive and negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients is needed for improved treatment and surveillance strategies. In this study, we set out to discover Antibody responses (AR) with prognostic impact in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) stratified by HPV-status. Experimental Design: A fluorescent bead-based multiplex serology assay to 29 cancer antigens (16 cancer-testis antigens, 5 cancer-retina antigens, 8 oncogenes) and 29 HPV-antigens was performed in samples of 362 HNSCC patients from five independent cohorts (153 HPV-positive, 209 HPV-negative). A multivariable cox proportional hazard model with bootstrapping (M=1000) was used for validation of prognostic antibody responses. Results: AR to any of the cancer antigens were found in 257/362 patients (71%). In HPV-negative patients, antibody responses to to c-myc, MAGE-A1, -A4 and Rhodopsin E2 (combined as ARhigh risk) were significantly associated with shorter overall survival. In HPV-positive patients antibody responses to IMP-1 were discovered as a negative prognostic factor. ARhigh risk (HR=1.76) and antibody responses to IMP-1 (HR=3.28) were confirmed as independent markers for a poor prognosis in a multivariable Cox proportional hazard model with bootstrapping (M=1000). Conclusion: We identified AR to cancer antigens that associate with a dismal prognosis in HNSCC patients beyond HPV-positive-status. ARhigh risk may be used to detect HPV-negative patients with an extraordinarily bad prognosis. Most importantly, AR to IMP-1 may serve as a marker for a subgroup of HPV-positive patients that present with a poor prognosis similar to that in HPV-negative patients