Study of HLA-DR in Cell Cultures Isolated From Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma

In our previous study (title: Expression of Major Histocompatibility Complex Molecules class II- HLA-DR in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck. ID 2222)the Authors verified that the epithelial cells of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck acquire the ability to express HLA-DR. Although the role of the expression of these molecules on neoplastic cells still remains controversial, a positive association between HLA-DR expression and clinical outcome was observed by us in analogy to what was reported by several studies on various types of tumors : in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, colorectal cancer , stomach cancer and others. In these tumors the expression of HLA-DR correlates with the presence of immune cells such as CD16+/CD11c macrophage myeloid cells, associated with a good prognosis and T cells which, recalled in the damaged tissue, they determine the formation of an immunogenic microenvironment that could support an anti-tumor immune response. Oncology studies are in fact focusing on the role of the tumor microenvironment which is characterized by different cell populations, among which the most abundant population is represented by tumor-associated fibroblasts (CAF). CAFs are fibroblasts which, in a tumor context, assume a phenotype similar to that of myo-fibroblasts and are distinguishable from normal fibroblasts by a greater expression of α-sma, FAP and FSP-1, which represent their specific markers, as well as a greater expression of vimentin, fibronectin, and type XI collagen. Numerous evidences in different types of tumors have reported both the immunosuppressive role, as these cells are capable in vitro of inhibiting the proliferation of T lymphocytes, to favor their apoptosis or to induce the phenotype of regulatory T lymphocytes; and the pro-tumor role, as they are capable of promoting tumor proliferation and invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis, thus contributing to the worsening of the prognosis. Many studies are directing their research on which factors secreted by CAFs are responsible for their function. In particular, among the many factors secreted by CAFs, there are the interleukins IL-17 and IL-33 which, as it has been demonstrated, can induce the activation of HLA-DR molecules on bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells . It therefore seems interesting to investigate the role of HLA-DR in relation to the presence of the tumor microenvironment represented by CAFs.

Sex

All

Inclusion Criteria:

* diagnosis of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, 2) signing of informed consent for study involvement.

Exclusion Criteria:

1\) patients diagnosed with non-primary squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and already undergoing radiotherapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy, biological therapy.