Changes in serum DAMPs and cytokines/chemokines during near‐infrared photoimmunotherapy for patients with head and neck cancer

Abstract

Abstract Background Near‐infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR‐PIT) for head and neck cancer is a recently developed therapy. However, there is limited data on patients receiving NIR‐PIT in real clinical settings. Methods Seven NIR‐PIT sessions were administered to five patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Serum damage‐associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) (HMGB1 and Hsp70 levels), and cytokine and chemokine production, were compared before and after NIR‐PIT. Results The serum concentration of HMGB1 increased after NIR‐PIT (p = 0.031, Wilcoxon test) in all patients except one who did not achieve a clinical response. Chemokines MIP‐1α (CCL3) and MIP‐1β (CCL4) increased significantly 1–3 days after treatment (CCL3, p = 0.0036; CCL4, p = 0.0016, Wilcoxon test). A low pre‐treatment neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was associated with a better response to therapy and survival. Conclusions The release of DAMPs, and cytokine/chemokine production, were detected in the patients' peripheral blood. The baseline NLR may predict patient outcomes in response to NIR‐PIT.

Keywords

• cytokine/chemokine
• head and neck cancer
• immunogenic cell death
• near‐infrared photoimmunotherapy
• neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio