CD8+ T Cell Infiltration Predicts Chemoradiosensitivity in Nasopharyngeal or Oropharyngeal Cancer

Abstract

ObjectivesLimited information exists regarding the associations between pre‐existing immune parameters in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIM) and either chemoradiosensitivity or prognosis for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx or oropharynx involving virus‐related or nonvirus‐related tumors.Study DesignRetrospective cohort study.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 141 patients with EBV+, p16+, or EBV− and p16− statuses who are receiving chemoradiotherapy. We performed immunohistochemistry using pretreatment biopsy specimens to analyze the programed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1) levels in tumor and immune cells and CD8+ tumor‐infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) density. We evaluated chemoradiosensitivity and prognosis with respect to these immune‐related parameters.ResultsVirus‐related tumors showed associations with both PD‐L1 expression and high CD8+ TIL density. Patients with higher CD8+ TIL density or greater numbers of PD‐L1+ tumor and immune cells showed significant rates of favorable local recurrence‐free survival (LRFS), progression‐free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Multivariate analyses demonstrated that higher CD8+ TIL density is an independent, significant, and favorable predictive factor for LRFS (P = .005) and OS (P = .003), although it is not a significant predictor of PFS (P = .077).ConclusionsHigher CD8+ TIL density represents a useful and favorable biomarker of chemoradiosensitivity in patients receiving chemoradiotherapy for nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal cancer.Level of Evidence3 Laryngoscope, 131:E1179–E1189, 2021

Distribution of CD8 T Cells and NK Cells in the Stroma in Relation to Recurrence or Metastasis of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

“… 26 , 27 Higher CD8 T cells density is also an independent, significant, and favorable predictive factor for local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) in patients receiving chemoradiotherapy for NPC. 28 Furthermore, our report also showed an association between increased CD8+ T cell expression and reduced recurrence or metastasis and increased survival. These studies were all affected by various treatment factors, such as surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.…”

“…Kawaguchi et al, through subgroup analysis, found that EBV+ patients with higher CD8+ TIL density showed significantly favorable LRFS or OS. 28 However, due to the limited EB virus data collected, EB virus correlation analysis was not possible in this study. Follow-up research will continue to collect EB virus related data and further discuss the relationship between TIICs and EB virus.…”

“…Kawaguchi et al, through subgroup analysis, found that EBV+ patients with higher CD8+ TIL density showed significantly favorable LRFS or OS. 28 However, due to the limited…”

T cell effects and mechanisms in immunotherapy of head and neck tumors

“…Meanwhile, Maimela et al found a correlation between increased CD8+ TIL density and reduced distant metastasis of tumor cells and an increased survival rate in a large number of studies [ 58 ]. Toshihiko Kawaguchi et al proposed that in the future, the prognostic effect of CRT in high-risk patients could be determined by assessing the density of CD8+ TIL after pretreatment, and whether adjuvant therapy (additional RT, chemotherapy or immunotherapy) would be required[ 59 ].…”

The clinical prognostic value of PD-L1 after concurrent chemoradiotherapy in Chinese nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients

“…Cao et al demonstrated that tumor PD-L1 expression is inversely associated with poor outcomes in patients with NPC (18). However, Kawaguchi et al reported that the patients who carried positive PD-L1 expression tumor cells or immune cells manifested remarkable rates of advantageous progression-free survival and OS (19). Based on the conflicting results, convincing evidence to evaluate the prognostic value of PD-L1 expression in the NPC is needed.…”