- 期刊
- OpenAccess
Are Friends or Foes? New Strategy for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treatment via Immune Regulation
摘要
Background: Chronic inflammation may promote cancer, and reducing inflammation may improve survival from cancer. The inflammatory response occurs through increased T-helper 1 (Th1) immunity and decreased T-helper 2 (Th2) immunity. Tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) promote cancer progression is common population for Th2 dominant in the tumor microenvironment. Moreover, cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) and regulatory T cell (Treg) were also the Th2 dominant subsets has been reported in many cancer types. Thus, we try to summarize the correlation of immune cell in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) progression. Methods: We review the role of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment and the recent immunotherapy in HNSCC. Results: Numerous signaling networks connect tumor cells with inflammatory cells. However, the mechanism underlying recruitment and infiltration of inflammatory cells into the tumor stroma remains unclear. Tumor cells may be escape from the immune system to avoid eliminated by immune cells. To a tumor cell, an infiltrating immune cell might be a ＂friend＂ that skews it toward the Th2 dominant and promote tumor growth, or a ＂foe＂ that skews it toward the Th1 dominant and enhance tumor regression. Conclusions: Breaking the crosstalk between tumor cells and infiltrating cells has potential to improve the clinical outcomes of patients with cancer.