Dynamic changes in chemosensitivity immune predictors in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer treated with induction chemotherapy.

Abstract

There are currently no data predicting chemosensitivity of induction chemotherapy (ICT) for hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). Associations between immune cells and overall response (OR) to ICT and changes in immune cells during ICT were observed in 40 patients with hypopharyngeal SCC undergoing ICT. CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cell and regulatory T-cell (Treg) frequencies reached diagnostic accuracy for OR to ICT. OR rate was significantly higher in CD4⁺ -high T cell, CD8⁺ -high T cell, and low Treg groups. A transient reduction in Tregs and increases in Tregs in the non-OR and OR groups were observed during the course of ICT. Conversely, increases in CD8⁺ T cells and reductions in CD8⁺ T cells in the non-OR and OR groups were observed. High CD4⁺ T-cell, high CD8⁺ T-cell, and low Treg frequencies can be predictors for high efficacy of ICT in patients with hypopharyngeal SCC.