Characterising B cell expression and prognostic significance in human papillomavirus positive oropharyngeal cancer
- Author(s)
- Young, RJ; Angel, C; Bressel, M; Pizzolla, A; Thai, AA; Porceddu, SV; Liu, H; Idrizi, R; Metta, J; Lim, AM; Solomon, BJ; Rischin, D;
- Journal Title
- Oral Oncology
- Publication Type
- Online publication before print
- Abstract
- OBJECTIVES: The incidence of human papillomavirus positive oropharyngeal cancer (HPV+OPC) is increasing, and new biomarkers are required to better define prognostic groups and guide treatment. Infiltrating T cells have been well studied in head and neck cancer, however the presence and role of B cells and tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) in the tumor microenvironment has not, even though the interplay between T and B cells is increasingly being recognised. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using CD20 immunohistochemistry (IHC) to identify B cells and TLS in a cohort of 159 HPV + OPC patients, we semi-quantitatively scored abundance and location (intra-tumoral or stromal) and correlated findings with patient survival. RESULTS: 32% (51/157) of patients had high intra-tumoral (IT) abundance of CD20(+) B cells (≥5%) and this was prognostic for improved overall survival (OS) with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 0.2 (95 % CI 0.0-0.7, p = 0.014). We validated our results in an independent cohort comprising 171 HPV + OPC where 14% (23/171) were IT CD20(+) high, again showing improved survival with an adjusted HR for OS of 0.2 (95 % CI 0.0-1.4, p = 0.003). Neither stromal abundance nor the presence of TLS were prognostic in either cohort. B cells were subtyped by multispectral IHC, identifying CD20(+)CD27(+) cells, consistent with memory B cells, as the predominant subtype. Combined with validated biomarker CD103, a marker of tissue-resident memory T cells, IT CD20(+) B cells abundance was able to prognostically stratify patients further. CONCLUSIONS: CD20(+) B cell abundance has the potential to be used as a biomarker to identify good and poor prognosis HPV + OPC patients.
- Keywords
- B cells; Cd20; Human papillomavirus; Oropharyngeal cancer; Prognosis; Tertiary lymphoid structures
- Department(s)
- Laboratory Research; Pathology; Biostatistics and Clinical Trials; Medical Oncology
- Publisher's Version
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oraloncology.2024.106687
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- Refer to copyright notice on published article.
Creation Date: 2024-02-22 12:10:35
Last Modified: 2024-02-22 12:19:10