A novel tertiary lymphoid structure-associated signature accurately predicts patient prognosis and facilitates the selection of personalized treatment strategies for HNSCC

BackgroundHead and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the most common type of head and neck cancer and is characterized by its aggressive nature and variable prognosis and response to immunotherapy. Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) play crucial roles in creating a favourable immune microenvi...

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Main Authors: Jinhao Zhang, Lu Zeng, Guobin Song, Gaoge Peng, Zhezheng Chen, Yamin Yuan, Taowu Chen, Tao Zhong, Shixi Chen, Zhengzhou Luo, Jingang Xiao, Lin Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1551844/full
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author Jinhao Zhang
Lu Zeng
Lu Zeng
Guobin Song
Gaoge Peng
Gaoge Peng
Zhezheng Chen
Zhezheng Chen
Yamin Yuan
Taowu Chen
Tao Zhong
Shixi Chen
Zhengzhou Luo
Zhengzhou Luo
Jingang Xiao
Jingang Xiao
Jingang Xiao
Lin Liu
Lin Liu
Lin Liu
author_facet Jinhao Zhang
Lu Zeng
Lu Zeng
Guobin Song
Gaoge Peng
Gaoge Peng
Zhezheng Chen
Zhezheng Chen
Yamin Yuan
Taowu Chen
Tao Zhong
Shixi Chen
Zhengzhou Luo
Zhengzhou Luo
Jingang Xiao
Jingang Xiao
Jingang Xiao
Lin Liu
Lin Liu
Lin Liu
author_sort Jinhao Zhang
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundHead and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the most common type of head and neck cancer and is characterized by its aggressive nature and variable prognosis and response to immunotherapy. Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) play crucial roles in creating a favourable immune microenvironment to control tumour progression. However, the specific impact of these structures on HNSCC has not been thoroughly studied.MethodsIn this study, a comprehensive review of tertiary lymphoid structures was conducted by analysing 9 TLS-associated genes in a cohort of 871 HNSCC patients. Distinct TLS-related subgroups were identified through unsupervised clustering analysis, and the associated genes were explored. Prognostic genes were identified via univariate Cox and Boruta algorithms, and a novel TLS-related scoring system was developed via the GSVA algorithm.ResultsOur study revealed that patients with higher TLS-related scores had improved overall survival and were more likely to benefit from immunotherapy. Furthermore, we observed a significant negative correlation between sensitivity to traditional chemotherapeutic agents and the TLS-related signature score.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the TLS-related features of HNSCC patients hold promise as predictive indicators for immunotherapy efficacy and may offer novel insights for tailoring personalized treatment strategies in clinical practice.
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spelling doaj-art-02528d19070e4328b8d26ec326b8b5a22025-08-20T02:57:17ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-03-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.15518441551844A novel tertiary lymphoid structure-associated signature accurately predicts patient prognosis and facilitates the selection of personalized treatment strategies for HNSCCJinhao Zhang0Lu Zeng1Lu Zeng2Guobin Song3Gaoge Peng4Gaoge Peng5Zhezheng Chen6Zhezheng Chen7Yamin Yuan8Taowu Chen9Tao Zhong10Shixi Chen11Zhengzhou Luo12Zhengzhou Luo13Jingang Xiao14Jingang Xiao15Jingang Xiao16Lin Liu17Lin Liu18Lin Liu19School of Stomatology, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, ChinaLuzhou Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, ChinaSchool of Stomatology, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, ChinaKey Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, ChinaLuzhou Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, ChinaSchool of Stomatology, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, ChinaSchool of Stomatology, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, ChinaSchool of Stomatology, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, ChinaSchool of Stomatology, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, ChinaLuzhou Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, ChinaSchool of Stomatology, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, ChinaLuzhou Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, ChinaSchool of Stomatology, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, ChinaLuzhou Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, ChinaBackgroundHead and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the most common type of head and neck cancer and is characterized by its aggressive nature and variable prognosis and response to immunotherapy. Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) play crucial roles in creating a favourable immune microenvironment to control tumour progression. However, the specific impact of these structures on HNSCC has not been thoroughly studied.MethodsIn this study, a comprehensive review of tertiary lymphoid structures was conducted by analysing 9 TLS-associated genes in a cohort of 871 HNSCC patients. Distinct TLS-related subgroups were identified through unsupervised clustering analysis, and the associated genes were explored. Prognostic genes were identified via univariate Cox and Boruta algorithms, and a novel TLS-related scoring system was developed via the GSVA algorithm.ResultsOur study revealed that patients with higher TLS-related scores had improved overall survival and were more likely to benefit from immunotherapy. Furthermore, we observed a significant negative correlation between sensitivity to traditional chemotherapeutic agents and the TLS-related signature score.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the TLS-related features of HNSCC patients hold promise as predictive indicators for immunotherapy efficacy and may offer novel insights for tailoring personalized treatment strategies in clinical practice.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1551844/fulltertiary lymphatic structureHNSCCGSVAtumour microenvironmentimmunotherapynomogram
spellingShingle Jinhao Zhang
Lu Zeng
Lu Zeng
Guobin Song
Gaoge Peng
Gaoge Peng
Zhezheng Chen
Zhezheng Chen
Yamin Yuan
Taowu Chen
Tao Zhong
Shixi Chen
Zhengzhou Luo
Zhengzhou Luo
Jingang Xiao
Jingang Xiao
Jingang Xiao
Lin Liu
Lin Liu
Lin Liu
A novel tertiary lymphoid structure-associated signature accurately predicts patient prognosis and facilitates the selection of personalized treatment strategies for HNSCC
Frontiers in Immunology
tertiary lymphatic structure
HNSCC
GSVA
tumour microenvironment
immunotherapy
nomogram
title A novel tertiary lymphoid structure-associated signature accurately predicts patient prognosis and facilitates the selection of personalized treatment strategies for HNSCC
title_full A novel tertiary lymphoid structure-associated signature accurately predicts patient prognosis and facilitates the selection of personalized treatment strategies for HNSCC
title_fullStr A novel tertiary lymphoid structure-associated signature accurately predicts patient prognosis and facilitates the selection of personalized treatment strategies for HNSCC
title_full_unstemmed A novel tertiary lymphoid structure-associated signature accurately predicts patient prognosis and facilitates the selection of personalized treatment strategies for HNSCC
title_short A novel tertiary lymphoid structure-associated signature accurately predicts patient prognosis and facilitates the selection of personalized treatment strategies for HNSCC
title_sort novel tertiary lymphoid structure associated signature accurately predicts patient prognosis and facilitates the selection of personalized treatment strategies for hnscc
topic tertiary lymphatic structure
HNSCC
GSVA
tumour microenvironment
immunotherapy
nomogram
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1551844/full
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