Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) have been shown to be an important prognostic factor in patients with previously untreated head and neck cancer. After organ preservation therapy for laryngeal cancer and subsequent persistence/recurrence, the prognostic value of TILs is unknown. Our goal was to determine if TILs have value as a prognostic biomarker in patients with surgically salvageable persistent/recurrent laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Levels of TILs were quantified on tissue microarrays from 183 patients undergoing salvage total laryngectomy for persistent/recurrent laryngeal cancer after radiation or chemoradiation between 1997 and 2014. Demographic and clinical data were abstracted. Immunohistology evaluation included CD4, CD8, PDL-1, p16, CD31, Vimentin, EGFR, and p53. Elevated levels of either CD8 or CD4 positive TILs were associated with improved disease specific survival (CD8: HR 0.46, 95% CI 0.24-0.88, CD4: HR 0.43; 95% CI 0.21-0.89) and disease free survival (CD8: HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.29-0.94, CD4: HR 0.52; 95% CI 0.27-0.99). Levels of CD8 (HR 0.74; 95% CI 0.47-1.17) or CD4 (HR 0.66; 95% CI 0.40-1.08) TILs were not significantly associated with overall survival. In bivariate analysis, patients with elevated CD4 and/or CD8 TILs had significantly improved disease specific survival (HR 0.42; 95% CI 0.21-0.83) and disease free survival (HR 0.45; 95% CI 0.24-0.84) compared to patients with low levels of CD4 and CD8. PDL-1, p16, CD31, Vimentin, EGFR, and p53 were not significant prognostic factors. On multivariate analysis, elevated CD8 TILs were associated with improved disease specific survival (HR 0.35; 95% CI 0.14-0.88, p = .02) and disease free survival (HR 0.41; 95% CI 0.17-0.96, p = .04). CD8, and possibly CD4, positive TILs are associated with favorable disease free and disease specific survival for recurrent/persistent laryngeal cancer.

ATR-101 is a novel, oral drug candidate currently in development for the treatment of adrenocortical cancer. ATR-101 is a selective and potent inhibitor of acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol O-acyltransferase 1 (ACAT1), an enzyme located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane that catalyzes esterification of intracellular free cholesterol (FC). We aimed to identify mechanisms by which ATR-101 induces adrenocortical cell death. In H295R human adrenocortical carcinoma cells, ATR-101 decreases the formation of cholesteryl esters and increases FC levels, demonstrating potent inhibition of ACAT1 activity. Caspase-3/7 levels and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase 2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate nick end labeled-positive cells are increased by ATR-101 treatment, indicating activation of apoptosis. Exogenous cholesterol markedly potentiates the activity of ATR-101, suggesting that excess FC that cannot be adequately esterified increases caspase-3/7 activation and subsequent cell death. Inhibition of calcium release from the ER or the subsequent uptake of calcium by mitochondria reverses apoptosis induced by ATR-101. ATR-101 also activates multiple components of the unfolded protein response, an indicator of ER stress. Targeted knockdown of ACAT1 in an adrenocortical cell line mimicked the effects of ATR-101, suggesting that ACAT1 mediates the cytotoxic effects of ATR-101. Finally, in vivo treatment of dogs with ATR-101 decreased adrenocortical steroid production and induced cellular apoptosis that was restricted to the adrenal cortex. Together, these studies demonstrate that inhibition of ACAT1 by ATR-101 increases FC, resulting in dysregulation of ER calcium stores that result in ER stress, the unfolded protein response, and ultimately apoptosis.

Importance HER2 is an important drug target in breast cancer, where anti-HER2 therapy has been shown to lead to improvements in disease recurrence and overall survival. HER2 status in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has not been well studied. Identification of HER2 positive tumors and characterization of response to HER2 therapy could lead to targeted treatment options in HNSCC. Objective To identify HER2 aberrations in HNSCCs and investigate potential for HER2 targeted therapy in HNSCCs. Design, Setting, and Participants Retrospective case series of patients with laryngeal and oral cavity SCC enrolled in the University of MichiganSPORE. Publically available sequencing data(TCGA) was reviewed to identify additional mutations and overexpression in HER2 in HNSCC. Established HNSCC cell lines were used for follow-up in vitro analysis. Interventions Using targeted, amplicon-based sequencing with the Oncomine Cancer Panel, we assessed the copy number and mutation status of commonly altered genes in HNSCCs. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on tissue microarrays of HNSCCs to assess expression of HER2. Western blotting for HNSCC cell line HER2 expression, and cell survival assays after treatment with HER2 inhibitors were performed. Main Outcomes and Measures Prevalence of HER2 genetic aberrations and HER2 overexpression in laryngeal and oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). Prevalence of HER2 aberrations in HNSCC in TCGA. HER2 protein expression in HNSCC cell lines. Response of HNSCC cell lines to targeted HER2 inhibitors. Results Forty-two laryngeal SCC samples were screened by targeted sequencing, of which 4 were positive for HER2 amplification. Two samples identified with sequencing showed HER2 overexpression on immunohistochemistry. Two of 94 oral cavity SCC samples were positive for HER2 on immunohistochemistry. Analysis of 288 patients from publicly available HNSCC sequencing data revealed 9 amplifications in HER2. Protein expression was variable across HNSCC cell lines, and a subset of these cell lines show responsiveness to anti-HER2 therapy. Conclusions and Relevance HER2 aberrations are identified in a subset of HNSCCs. These tumors may be responsive to targeted therapy against HER2. Screening for HER2 aberrations and applying targeted therapy in HER2 positive patients may provide a useful tool for personalized therapy trials, particularly in patients that are refractory to current treatment paradigms.

Background: Recurrent laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (LSCCs) are associated with poor outcomes, without reliable biomarkers to identify patients who may benefit from adjuvant therapies. Given the emergence of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) as a biomarker in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, we generated predictive models to understand the utility of CD4 + , CD8 + and/or CD103 + TIL status in patients with advanced LSCC.

Objectives: We sought to describe the genetic complexity of 14 UM-SCC oral cavity cancer cell lines that have remained uncharacterized despite being used as model systems for decades. Materials and Methods: We performed exome sequencing on 14 oral cavity UM-SCC cell lines and denote the mutational profile of each line. We used a SNP array to profile the multiple copy number variations of each cell line and use immunoblotting to compare alterations to protein expression of commonly amplified genes (EGFR, PIK3CA, etc.). RNA sequencing was performed to characterize the expression of genes with copy number alterations. Results: The cell lines displayed a highly complex network of genetic aberrations that was consistent with alterations identified in the HNSCC TCGA project including PIK3CA amplification, CDKN2A deletion, as well as TP53 and CASP8 mutations, enabling genetic stratification of each cell line in the panel. Copy number FISH and spectral karyotyping analysis demonstrate that cell lines retain chromosomal heterogeneity. Conclusions: Collectively, we developed an important resource for future oral cavity HNSCC cell line studies and highlight the complexity of genomic aberrations in cell lines.