The combined HPV16-E2/E6/E7 T cell response in oropharyngeal cancer predicts superior survival.
prospective_cohort · Level II
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 37924817.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101262 and PMC identifier 10694628.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Tumor-infiltrating HPV16-E2-specific CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells have been detected in HPV16-induced oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Whether intratumoral CD4<sup>+</sup> T cells target HPV16 E2 and if HPV16-E2-specific immunity contributes to better clinical outcome is unknown. In a prospective HPV16<sup>+</sup> OPSCC cohort, we regularly detect HPV16-E2-specific CD4<sup>+</sup> and CD8<sup>+</sup> intratumoral T cells, albeit at lower frequencies than the co-infiltrating HPV16-E6/E7-specific T cells. These HPV16-reactive T cells produce multiple cytokines when activated, indicating their polyfunctionality. Importantly, their combined intratumoral presence predicts superior survival, emphasizing the value of HPV16-E2-specific T cells in anti-tumor immunity and suggests its use as a target antigen for immunotherapy.
Medical subject headings
- Papillomavirus Infections
- Oropharyngeal Neoplasms
- Head and Neck Neoplasms