Novel treatment options in head and neck cancer

The treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has been a medical challenge with limited improvement in overall survival over the past few decades. However, recently, very interesting innovations in the field of immunotherapy have been shown to be beneficial for patients with advanced HNSCC. In this article, the latest medical developments are reviewed with special focus on the clinical achievements and current clinical studies in the field of immunotherapy. The landscape of clinical studies has changed considerably from antibody-based growth factor inhibition towards immune checkpoint modulation, and new indications in the adjuvant and neoadjuvant setting are being tested in large patient cohorts. Even the combination of 2 or more immune modulatory approaches and the correct synchronization with standard cancer therapy is promising and warrants suitable clinical trials

Quantum Field Theory on Quantum Spacetime

Condensed account of the Lectures delivered at the Meeting on {\it Noncommutative Geometry in Field and String Theory}, Corfu, September 18 - 20, 2005.Comment: 10 page

Characterization and differentiation of the tumor microenvironment (TME) of orthotopic and subcutaneously grown head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in immunocompetent mice

For the development and evaluation of new head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) therapeutics, suitable, well-characterized animal models are needed. Thus, by analyzing orthotopic versus subcutaneous models of HNSCC in immunocompetent mice, we evaluated the existence of adenosine-related immunosuppressive B- and T lymphocyte populations within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Applying the SCC VII model for the induction of HNSCC in immunocompetent C3H/HeN mice, the cellular TME was characterized after tumor initiation over time by flow cytometry. The TME in orthotopic grown tumors revealed a larger population of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) with more B cells and CD4+ T cells than the subcutaneously grown tumors. Immune cell populations in the blood and bone marrow showed a rather distinct reaction toward tumor induction and tumor location compared to the spleen, lymph nodes, or thymus. In addition, large numbers of immunosuppressive B- and T cells were identified within the TME but also in secondary lymphoid organs, independently of the tumor initiation site. The altered immunogenic TME may influence the response to any treatment attempt. Moreover, when analyzing the TME and other lymphoid organs of tumor-bearing mice, we observed conditions reflecting largely those of patients suffering from HNSCC suggesting the C3H/HeN mouse model as a suitable tool for studies aiming to target immunosuppression to improve anti-cancer therapies