Assessment of Immune Cell Populations in Tumor Tissue and Peripheral Blood Samples from Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a common type of cancer worldwide. Strong connections have been revealed between immune cells and the pathogenesis of HNSCC. Important differences regarding the levels of immune cell subpopulations in both peripheral circulation and tumor microenviron...

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Main Authors: Ana Caruntu, Liliana Moraru, Mihaela Surcel, Adriana Munteanu, Cristiana Tanase, Carolina Constantin, Sabina Zurac, Constantin Caruntu, Monica Neagu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:Analytical Cellular Pathology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/2328218
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author Ana Caruntu
Liliana Moraru
Mihaela Surcel
Adriana Munteanu
Cristiana Tanase
Carolina Constantin
Sabina Zurac
Constantin Caruntu
Monica Neagu
author_facet Ana Caruntu
Liliana Moraru
Mihaela Surcel
Adriana Munteanu
Cristiana Tanase
Carolina Constantin
Sabina Zurac
Constantin Caruntu
Monica Neagu
author_sort Ana Caruntu
collection DOAJ
description Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a common type of cancer worldwide. Strong connections have been revealed between immune cells and the pathogenesis of HNSCC. Important differences regarding the levels of immune cell subpopulations in both peripheral circulation and tumor microenvironment were emphasized, with some of them having prognostic significance. In our study, we performed an analysis of immune changes in the tumor tissue and the peripheral blood of untreated HNSCC patients, investigating the proportions of different immune cell populations in these two compartments. The local infiltrating lymphocytes were mainly cytotoxic T cells (CD8+). We have also revealed an increased level of B lymphocytes (CD19+) in the tumor microenvironment. In peripheral blood, the most important lymphocyte subtype was represented by the helper T lymphocytes (CD4+). We also found an increased proportion of circulating NK cells (CD56+). Our results showed significant differences between all investigated lymphocyte subtypes in the peripheral blood and the tumor tissue of untreated HNSCC patients, suggesting that the local and systemic expressions of antitumor immune responses are different and that investigation of immune cell proportions in peripheral circulation has different cues that do not reflect the immune infiltrate pattern within the tumor microenvironment. Further studies are necessary to unveil the complex interplay involving local and systemic events in the immune system’s fight against cancer.
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spelling doaj-art-4bc9a8ec512b49bd9e3cc5dd976c2df12025-08-20T03:20:14ZengWileyAnalytical Cellular Pathology2210-71772210-71852021-01-01202110.1155/2021/23282182328218Assessment of Immune Cell Populations in Tumor Tissue and Peripheral Blood Samples from Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma PatientsAna Caruntu0Liliana Moraru1Mihaela Surcel2Adriana Munteanu3Cristiana Tanase4Carolina Constantin5Sabina Zurac6Constantin Caruntu7Monica Neagu8Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, “Carol Davila” Central Military Emergency Hospital, 010825 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, “Carol Davila” Central Military Emergency Hospital, 010825 Bucharest, RomaniaImmunology Department, Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, RomaniaImmunology Department, Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, RomaniaBiochemistry Laboratory, Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, RomaniaImmunology Department, Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Pathology, Colentina University Hospital, Bucharest 020125, RomaniaDepartment of Physiology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, RomaniaImmunology Department, Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, RomaniaHead and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a common type of cancer worldwide. Strong connections have been revealed between immune cells and the pathogenesis of HNSCC. Important differences regarding the levels of immune cell subpopulations in both peripheral circulation and tumor microenvironment were emphasized, with some of them having prognostic significance. In our study, we performed an analysis of immune changes in the tumor tissue and the peripheral blood of untreated HNSCC patients, investigating the proportions of different immune cell populations in these two compartments. The local infiltrating lymphocytes were mainly cytotoxic T cells (CD8+). We have also revealed an increased level of B lymphocytes (CD19+) in the tumor microenvironment. In peripheral blood, the most important lymphocyte subtype was represented by the helper T lymphocytes (CD4+). We also found an increased proportion of circulating NK cells (CD56+). Our results showed significant differences between all investigated lymphocyte subtypes in the peripheral blood and the tumor tissue of untreated HNSCC patients, suggesting that the local and systemic expressions of antitumor immune responses are different and that investigation of immune cell proportions in peripheral circulation has different cues that do not reflect the immune infiltrate pattern within the tumor microenvironment. Further studies are necessary to unveil the complex interplay involving local and systemic events in the immune system’s fight against cancer.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/2328218
spellingShingle Ana Caruntu
Liliana Moraru
Mihaela Surcel
Adriana Munteanu
Cristiana Tanase
Carolina Constantin
Sabina Zurac
Constantin Caruntu
Monica Neagu
Assessment of Immune Cell Populations in Tumor Tissue and Peripheral Blood Samples from Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients
Analytical Cellular Pathology
title Assessment of Immune Cell Populations in Tumor Tissue and Peripheral Blood Samples from Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients
title_full Assessment of Immune Cell Populations in Tumor Tissue and Peripheral Blood Samples from Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients
title_fullStr Assessment of Immune Cell Populations in Tumor Tissue and Peripheral Blood Samples from Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of Immune Cell Populations in Tumor Tissue and Peripheral Blood Samples from Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients
title_short Assessment of Immune Cell Populations in Tumor Tissue and Peripheral Blood Samples from Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients
title_sort assessment of immune cell populations in tumor tissue and peripheral blood samples from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/2328218
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