Frontiers in Oncology (Jan 2023)

Defining biomarkers in oral cancer according to smoking and drinking status

  • Juliette Rochefort,
  • Juliette Rochefort,
  • Juliette Rochefort,
  • Ioannis Karagiannidis,
  • Claude Baillou,
  • Lisa Belin,
  • Maude Guillot-Delost,
  • Rodney Macedo,
  • Aline Le Moignic,
  • Véronique Mateo,
  • Patrick Soussan,
  • Isabelle Brocheriou,
  • Jean-Luc Teillaud,
  • Marie-Caroline Dieu-Nosjean,
  • Chloé Bertolus,
  • Chloé Bertolus,
  • Francois Michel Lemoine,
  • Francois Michel Lemoine,
  • Géraldine Lescaille,
  • Géraldine Lescaille,
  • Géraldine Lescaille

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2022.1068979
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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IntroductionOral Squamous Cell Carcinomas (OSCC) are mostly related to tobacco consumption eventually associated to alcohol (Smoker/Drinker patients: SD), but 25-30% of the patients have no identified risk factors (Non-Smoker/Non-Drinker patients: NSND). We hypothesized that these patients have distinguishable immune profiles that could be useful for prognosis.Materials and MethodsCells present in immune tumor microenvironment (TME) and blood from 87 OSCC HPV-negative patients were analyzed using a multiparameter flow cytometry assay, in a prospective case-control study. Cytokine levels in tumor supernatants and blood were determined by a cytometric bead array (CBA) assay.ResultsNormal gingiva and blood from healthy donors (HD) were used as controls. A significant increase of granulocytes (p<0.05 for blood), of monocytes-macrophages (p<0.01 for blood) and of CD4+ T cells expressing CD45RO and CCR6 (p<0.001 for blood; p<0.0001 for TME) as well as higher levels of IL-6 (p<0.01 for sera, p<0.05 for tumor supernatant) were observed in SD patients as compared to NSND OSCC patients and HD. High percentages of CD4+ T cells expressing CD45RO and CCR6 cells in tumor tissue (p=0.05) and blood (p=0.05) of SD OSCC patients were also associated with a poorer prognosis while a high percentage of regulatory T cells (Treg) in tumor tissue was associated with a more favorable prognostic factor (p=0.05). Also, a higher percentage of blood CD8+ T lymphocytes among CD45+ cells in NSND patients was associated with a better disease-free survival (p=0.004).ConclusionGranulocytes, monocytes-macrophages, and CD4+ T cells expressing CD45RO and CCR6 in blood and TME as well as serum IL-6 can therefore distinguish OSCC SD and NSND patients. Quantifying the proportion of CD4+ T cells expressing CD45RO and CCR6 and of Treg in SD patients and CD8+ T cells in NSND patients could help defining the prognostic of OSCC patients.

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