Next Article in Journal
SLFN11 Restricts LINE-1 Mobility
Previous Article in Journal
Molecular Fingerprint of Endocannabinoid Signaling in the Developing Paraventricular Nucleus of the Hypothalamus as Revealed by Single-Cell RNA-Seq and In Situ Hybridization
Previous Article in Special Issue
Lipocalin-2, Matrix Metalloproteinase-9, and MMP-9/NGAL Complex in Upper Aerodigestive Tract Carcinomas: A Pilot Study
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Cells
Volume 14
Issue 11
10.3390/cells14110789
cells-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Spatial Distribution and Prognostic Value of T Cell Subtypes and Immune Biomarkers in p16-Negative HNSCC

by
David Krum
1,
Saskia Rösch
1,2,
Rolf Warta
1,2,
Carolin Mogler
3,
Miray-Su Yılmaz Topçuoğlu
1,
Niels Grabe
4,
Patrick J. Schuler
1,
Gerhard Dyckhoff
1,† and
Christel Herold-Mende
1,2,*,†
1
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical Faculty of Heidelberg, University of Heidelberg, INF 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
2
Division of Experimental Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Faculty of Heidelberg, University of Heidelberg, INF 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
3
Institute of Pathology, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Trogerstr. 18, 81675 Munich, Germany
4
Hamamatsu Tissue Imaging and Analysis Center, BioQuant, University of Heidelberg, INF 267, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Cells 2025, 14(11), 789; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14110789 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 11 April 2025 / Revised: 21 May 2025 / Accepted: 26 May 2025 / Published: 27 May 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends and Advances in Diagnosis and Prognosis of Head and Neck Cancer from Carcinogenesis to Future Molecular Targeted Therapies: 2nd Edition)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) suffer from severe morbidity and mortality. Immunotherapy represents a novel promising treatment option. Therefore, a better understanding of the immune niche is needed. This study focuses on the spatial distribution and prognostic value of different T cell subtypes in 84 HNSCC specimens as well as chemokine and cytokine levels associated with spatial T cell infiltration. Density of T helper (TH), cytotoxic (CTL), and regulatory T cells (Treg) was quantified by multicolor tissue cytometry on a single cell level in whole tissue sections, discriminating between T cells located in epithelial tumor cell nests or tumor stroma, respectively. In addition, quantitative levels of 27 immune-related factors were assessed. Survival analysis of patients with p16-negative HNSCC revealed higher stromal Treg densities to be an independent prognostic factor for better progression-free and overall survival. Furthermore, high levels of CXCL10, IL-9, and CCL4 were associated with significantly higher numbers of T cells, especially for CTL with direct contact to tumor cells, whereas for VEGF the opposite effect was observed in the tumor stroma. In conclusion, Treg cell infiltration as well as distinct cytokine levels could serve as new immune biomarkers in p16-negative HNSCC to predict survival and the spatial distribution of T cells.
Keywords: HNSCC; TIL; survival; cytokine; regulatory T cell; CXCL10; IL-9; CCL4; VEGF HNSCC; TIL; survival; cytokine; regulatory T cell; CXCL10; IL-9; CCL4; VEGF

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Krum, D.; Rösch, S.; Warta, R.; Mogler, C.; Yılmaz Topçuoğlu, M.-S.; Grabe, N.; Schuler, P.J.; Dyckhoff, G.; Herold-Mende, C. Spatial Distribution and Prognostic Value of T Cell Subtypes and Immune Biomarkers in p16-Negative HNSCC. Cells 2025, 14, 789. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14110789

AMA Style

Krum D, Rösch S, Warta R, Mogler C, Yılmaz Topçuoğlu M-S, Grabe N, Schuler PJ, Dyckhoff G, Herold-Mende C. Spatial Distribution and Prognostic Value of T Cell Subtypes and Immune Biomarkers in p16-Negative HNSCC. Cells. 2025; 14(11):789. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14110789

Chicago/Turabian Style

Krum, David, Saskia Rösch, Rolf Warta, Carolin Mogler, Miray-Su Yılmaz Topçuoğlu, Niels Grabe, Patrick J. Schuler, Gerhard Dyckhoff, and Christel Herold-Mende. 2025. "Spatial Distribution and Prognostic Value of T Cell Subtypes and Immune Biomarkers in p16-Negative HNSCC" Cells 14, no. 11: 789. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14110789

APA Style

Krum, D., Rösch, S., Warta, R., Mogler, C., Yılmaz Topçuoğlu, M.-S., Grabe, N., Schuler, P. J., Dyckhoff, G., & Herold-Mende, C. (2025). Spatial Distribution and Prognostic Value of T Cell Subtypes and Immune Biomarkers in p16-Negative HNSCC. Cells, 14(11), 789. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14110789

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop