Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC) associated with a poor prognosis and diminished quality of life for patients is the most prevalent pathological type among head and neck tumors. Currently,the standard treatment modalities comprise systemic therapies(including chemotherapy,targeted therapy,and immunotherapy) and local therapies(surgery and radiotherapy).Immunotherapy,characterized by high specificity and low toxicity,is progressively expanding from advanced palliative care to the stage of locally advanced curative treatment and has demonstrated promising efficacy.This review summarizes the latest advances in immunotherapy for HNSCC,aiming to provide reference for optimizing clinical management strategies and facilitating the clinical research.
Humans ; Immunotherapy/methods* ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/immunology* ; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck/therapy*

OBJECTIVE: To perform a Meta-analysis of all randomized controlled trials that compared the efficacy and adverse events profile of Mabs for LA HNSCC. METHOD: Several databases were searched, including CBM, PUBMED, EMBASE, and CENTRAL. Primary outcomes included overall response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary outcomes included serious adverse events, such as grade 3-4 skin reaction, dysphagia, mucositis, and nausea/vomiting. The results were expressed as relative ratio (RR) or hazard rate (HR) with their corresponding 95% CI. RESULT: The final analysis included 10 trials. The primary analyses indicated that Mabs did not improve ORR and PFS, except OS for locoregionally advanced (LA) HNSCC [ORR 1.21, 95% CI (0.97 - 1.49); PFS 0.87, 95% CI (0.75 - 1.01); OS 0.82, 95% CI (0.71 - 0.95)]. Analysis of adverse effects demonstrated that grade 3 - 4 skin reaction ERR 1.87, 95% CI (1.11 - 3.16)] was statistically significantly associated with Mabs except dysphagia ERR 0. 95, 95% CI (0.75 - 1.19)], Mucositis ERR 1.03, 95% CI (0.67 - 1.57)], and nausea/vomiting ERR 1.15, 95% CI (0.71 - 1.86)]. CONCLUSION Anti-EGFR Mabs may be satisfactory for improving OS of LA HNSCC. During the Mabs therapy, skin reaction should be much more monitored.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; Disease-Free Survival ; ErbB Receptors ; immunology ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck

OBJECTIVE: This research aims to investaigate the effect of cetuximab and dendritic cells (DCs) to kill the head and neck squamous cell (HNSCC), in order to provide a new way for the patients of HNSCC. METHOD: DCs were induced from peripheral blood monocytes by rhIL-4, rhGM-CSF and TNF-alpha in vitro, 7days later, detecting the surface marks of DCs for example CD83, CD86, and then using MTT and flow cytometry detecting the effect T lymphocytes induced by DCs combining cetuximab to kill HNSCC; EGFR and pEGFR in each group were anlysised by Western blot. RESULT: It is successful to induce DCs in vitro. Mature DCs (mDCs) expressed the suface mark such as CD83, CD86 higher compared with immature DCs (imDCs). Compared with other groups, cetuximab combined with DCs significantly enhanced the cytotoxicty and apoptosis to HNSCC (P < 0.05). pEGFR were gradually reduced as the concenetration of cetuximab increasing (P < 0.05). However, comparing with the group of cetuximab, the group of cetuximab combined with DC has no significant difference at the same concentration of cetuximab. In each group EGFR also has no significant diference (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION Cetuximab and DCs have synergistic effects, which can significantly enhance the killing effect of HNSCC.
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; Cetuximab ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; pathology ; Humans ; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features and differential diagnosis of myxoid dermafibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP).

METHODSThe clinical and pathologic features of 16 cases of myxoid DFSP were reviewed.

RESULTSThere were altogether 15 males and 1 female. The age of the patients ranged from 11 to 73 years (mean = 47 years and median = 48 years). The commonest site of involvement was trunk (number = 11), followed by shoulder (number = 2), head and neck (number = 2), and extremity (number = 1). Similar to conventional DFSP, most patients presented with a slowly enlarging subcutaneous nodule which showed a rapid recent growth in some cases. Amongst the 16 cases studied, 12 occurred de novo and 4 represented local recurrence. The tumors ranged from 2 to 10 cm in greatest dimension (mean = 5 cm and median = 4 cm). Histologically, they were poorly circumscribed and located in the dermis, with focal infiltration into the underlying subcutaneous tissue. Seven cases were purely myxoid and composed of spindly and stellate cells with delicate arborizing vascular meshwork. The remaining 9 cases were predominantly myxoid (> 50%), with 5 cases containing cellular areas resembling conventional DFSP and 4 cases showing fibrosarcomatous transformation. In addition, foci of giant cell fibroblastoma-like areas were noted in 1 case. Immunohistochemical study showed that the tumors cells were positive for CD34. The staining was weak in the myxoid areas, as compared with conventional DFSP. Of the 4 recurrent cases, one patient developed lung metastases.

CONCLUSIONSMyxoid DFSP represents a rare variant of DFSP and may pose important diagnostic pitfalls. It is especially so if the tumor purely consists of myxoid element. Familiarity with the histologic features helps to avoid misdiagnosis.

Abdominal Wall ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Child ; Dermatofibrosarcoma ; diagnostic imaging ; immunology ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; immunology ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; secondary ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Radiography ; Shoulder ; Skin Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; immunology ; pathology ; surgery ; Young Adult

Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; therapeutic use ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; Cetuximab ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of combined interleukin (IL)-2 gene and IL-12 gene therapy in murine model with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

METHODSHNSCC model was established in the mouth floor of C3H/HeJ mice with SCCVII cell line. Lipid-IL2 and lipid-IL12 plasmid complexes were introduced either alone or in combination into the tumor by direct intratumor gene injection. Tumor size was measured before and after the treatment to evaluate the response of the different treatment and control groups. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the IL-2 and IL-12 expression. Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) assay was used to evaluate the activity of Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cells.

RESULTSGrowth of HNSCC was significantly inhibited in combined IL-2 and IL-12 gene therapy group as compared with the other groups (P < 0.01). Increased level of IL-2 and IL-12 protein expression was found in both combined and single treatment groups. Greater activity of CTL and NK was also observed in these two groups as compared with the controls.

CONCLUSIONBoth IL-2 and IL-12 gene therapy is able to inhibit the growth of HNSCC and induce the host antitumor immune response efficiently in the murine model. Combination of the two in gene therapy may be additive or synergistic in antitumor effect.

Animals ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; immunology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; immunology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Interleukin-12 ; genetics ; Interleukin-2 ; genetics ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C3H ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology

Bromodeoxyuridine, an analogue of thymidine, can be detected by means of monoclonal antibodies and utilized as a marker of the S-phase of the cell cycle. In vitro immunohistochemical application of the BrdU/anti-BrdU-MAb method permits a quantitative assessment of the proliferative activity of a tissue as well as the direct location of the actively replicating cells in histological sections. In this paper, a method for the detection of the labeling index of S-phase cells in normal and neoplastic tissues with in vitro BrdU labeling and standard immunohistochemical techniques using anti-BrdU-MAb and avidin-biotin peroxidase complex is described. We have employed this method in 47 human solid tumor samples, including squamous cell carcinomas of head and neck and cervix uteri, adenocarcinomas and malignant lymphomas, and also evaluated the possible application of the BrdU labeling index to estimate the cycling S-phase cells in neoplastic cell populations. In our data, the in vitro labeling index varied greatly in an individual case (3.56-29.2%) and from an area to an area within the same case. Squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck showed higher LI than those of the cervix uteri. A case of metastatic carcinoma to the lung from ductal carcinoma of the breast had the highest LI (29.2%), in contrast to the low LI (3.6%) in the primary ductal carcinoma of breast.
Adenocarcinoma/immunology/pathology ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/*immunology ; Breast Neoplasms/immunology/pathology ; Bromodeoxyuridine/*immunology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/immunology/pathology ; Cell Nucleus/immunology/*physiology ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/immunology/pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; *Interphase ; Lymphoma/immunology/pathology ; Neoplasms/immunology/*pathology