Mechanisms of resistance to T cell‐based immunotherapy in head and neck cancer. Issue 9 (10th April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Maxwell Y.; Allen, Clint T.
• Is Part Of: Head & neck. Volume 42:Issue 9(2020)
• Page Start: 2722
• Page End: 2733
• Publication Date: 2020-04-10
• Subjects: immune escape -- immunoediting -- NK cell -- T cell -- tumor heterogeneity; Head -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neck -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Head -- Periodicals; Neck -- Periodicals; Face -- Periodicals; 617.51059
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.26158
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-3074

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Most current approved or investigational immunotherapeutic approaches for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma are aimed at activating T cells. The majority of patients receiving such immunotherapy do not demonstrate durable tumor remission. Methods: Original articles covering tumor heterogeneity, immunoediting, immune escape, and local tumor immunosuppression were reviewed. Results: In the face of immune pressure, subclones susceptible to T cell killing are eliminated, leaving behind resistant tumor clones in a process known as immunoediting. Such subclones of tumor cells that are resistant to T cell killing may remain sensitive to natural killer (NK) cell detection and elimination, suggesting that patients harboring such tumors may benefit from combination of T and NK cell‐based immunotherapy. Even in the setting of optimal immunotherapy, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment may arrogate effector immune responses through a number of distinct mechanisms. Conclusions: Highly effective immunotherapy will likely require multimodality approaches targeting independent mechanisms of immune activation.