Immunomodulatory effect of induction chemotherapy on the oral cancer microenvironment

Abstract

Several clinical trials are ongoing to evaluate induction chemotherapy and immunotherapy for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) including oral cancer, with the aim of improving survival and functional outcomes. Our tumor-immune microenvironmental analyses based on multiplex immunohistochemistry and image cytometry revealed the presence of three types of immune characteristics, which were associated with the efficacy of induction chemotherapy in locally advanced HNSCC. Tissue biomarker-guided patient selection can optimize future treatment strategies including induction chemotherapy/immunotherapy and surgical procedures in oral cancer.