CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Laryngorhinootologie 2022; 101(S 02): S208
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1746693
Poster
Head-Neck-Oncology: HPV / Tumor marker

The prognostic impact of B7-H3 and B7-H4 in head and neck cancer

Thorsten Rieckmann
1   Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals–, Nasen–, Ohrenheilkunde Hamburg
,
Mara Borgmann
1   Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals–, Nasen–, Ohrenheilkunde Hamburg
,
Christian Betz
1   Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals–, Nasen–, Ohrenheilkunde Hamburg
,
Nikolaus Möckelmann
4   Kath. Marienkrankenhaus, Klinik für Hals–, Nasen–, Ohrenheilkunde Hamburg
,
Agnes Oetting
1   Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals–, Nasen–, Ohrenheilkunde Hamburg
,
Clara von Bargen
5   Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Institut für Pathologie Hamburg
,
Till Clauditz
5   Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Institut für Pathologie Hamburg
,
Adrian Münscher
4   Kath. Marienkrankenhaus, Klinik für Hals–, Nasen–, Ohrenheilkunde Hamburg
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Introduction Immunotherapy through immune checkpoint inhibition is an option in many cancer entities. In HNSCC the inhibition of the PD1/PD-L1 (B7-H1) axis is approved as first line treatment for r/m HNSCC and is further being explored in the curative setting. Here, we tested two related members of the B7 family, B7-H3 & B7-H4, for their expression and impact under standard treatment.

Methods A tissue microarray of a single center heterogeneous HNSCC cohort was stained for B7-H3 and B7-H4. Staining intensity and the number of tumor cells stained were assessed and the expression was scored according to an established algorithm. Staining scores were correlated with clinicopathological parameters and associated with patient survival.

Results Overall 407 samples yielded interpretable staining for B7-H3 and 404 for B7-H4. Strong and absent staining were the most frequently observed category for B7-H3 and B7-H4, respectively. Protein expression was not correlated to one another, T- or N-stage. In a pooled cohort of patients with laryngeal, hypopharyngeal and oral cavity SCC as well as p16-neg. OPSCC – but not in those with p16-pos. OPSCC – strong B7-H3 expression was associated with significantly inferior overall survival. Taking localization and treatment into account, significance remained for p16-neg. and laryngeal tumors treated by primary radio(chemo)therapy. For B7-H4 we did not observe statistically signifiant differences.

Conclusion In HPV-negative HNSCC, strong expression of B7-H3 may contribute to radioresistance. To what extent this may be caused by an inhibition of anti-tumor immune responses needs to be explored. The vastly different expression levels suggests B7-H3 but not B7-H4 as a suitable therapeutic target in HNSCC.

Hamburger Krebsgesellschaft (T.R., T.C., A.M.) & BMBF (02NUK032, T.R.)



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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
24. Mai 2022

© 2022. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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