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01-10-2017 | Original Article

CD45RA⁻Foxp3^high regulatory T cells have a negative impact on the clinical outcome of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Authors: Fumie Ihara, Daiju Sakurai, Atsushi Horinaka, Yuji Makita, Akira Fujikawa, Toshioki Sakurai, Kazuki Yamasaki, Naoki Kunii, Shinichiro Motohashi, Toshinori Nakayama, Yoshitaka Okamoto

Published in: Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy | Issue 10/2017

Abstract

Background

Although regulatory T cells (Tregs) are thought to play an important role in immune suppression, their clinical significance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is unclear. A recent study reported Tregs could be divided into functional subsets based on the expression of CD45RA and Foxp3.

Method

The frequency of circulating Treg subsets was analyzed in patients with HNSCC and compared with the frequency in patients with benign tumors. The association of Treg subsets with the frequency of lymphocyte subsets, status of progression, clinical course, and prognosis were also examined.

Results

The frequency of CD4⁺Foxp3⁺ Tregs was comparable between HNSCC patients and age-matched benign tumor patients; however, CD45RA⁻Foxp3^high Tregs were significantly increased in HNSCC patients, in particular those with advanced stage tumors. The high frequency of CD45RA⁻Foxp3^high Tregs correlated with a poor prognosis and the low frequency of CD45RA⁻Foxp3^high Tregs before treatment showed a better clinical outcome, even in patients with advanced stage tumors. CD45RA⁻Foxp3^high Treg numbers were decreased after intensive treatments; however, Treg numbers recovered in the early stages of recurrent cases, even before the clinical manifestation.

Conclusion

CD45RA⁻Foxp3^high Tregs are associated with the clinical course of HNSCC and might be a new target for treatment and an early marker of tumor recurrence in HNSCC patients.

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Title: CD45RA−Foxp3high regulatory T cells have a negative impact on the clinical outcome of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Fumie Ihara
Daiju Sakurai
Atsushi Horinaka
Yuji Makita
Akira Fujikawa
Toshioki Sakurai
Kazuki Yamasaki
Naoki Kunii
Shinichiro Motohashi
Toshinori Nakayama
Yoshitaka Okamoto
Publication date: 01-10-2017
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy / Issue 10/2017
Print ISSN: 0340-7004
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0851
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-017-2021-z

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