RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Enhanced understanding of programmed death-ligand (PD-L) expression in oral cancer is important for establishing rational combinations of emerging immune checkpoint and molecular targeted therapies. METHODS: We assessed PD-L and interferon (IFN) expression in immunogenic murine oral cancer-1 (MOC1) and poorly immunogenic MOC2 cell models after treatment with mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and MEK1/2 small molecule inhibitors in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: PD-L1 but not PD-L2 is expressed on MOC1 and 2 cells and is type I and II IFN-dependent. PD-L1 is differentially expressed on cancer and endothelial cells and infiltrating myeloid-derived suppressor cells, macrophages, and regulatory T cells (Tregs) in highly and poorly immunogenic tumors. PD-L1 expression is variably altered after treatment with inhibitors in vivo, with an imperfect relationship to alterations in IFN levels in the tumor microenvironment. CONCLUSION: PD-L1 expressed on cancer and infiltrating immune cells is variably altered by targeted therapies and may, in part, reflect changes in tumor IFN. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38:1176-1186, 2016.
Asunto(s)
Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica/efectos de los fármacos , Interferones/farmacología , Terapia Molecular Dirigida/métodos , Neoplasias de la Boca/genética , Receptor de Muerte Celular Programada 1/genética , Microambiente Tumoral/efectos de los fármacos , Animales , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Femenino , Citometría de Flujo , Humanos , Inmunohistoquímica , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Neoplasias de la Boca/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias de la Boca/patología , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa/métodos , Receptor de Muerte Celular Programada 1/efectos de los fármacos , Distribución Aleatoria , Células Tumorales Cultivadas , Microambiente Tumoral/genéticaRESUMEN
Fanconi Anemia has recently been associated with a high risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Inactivation of the Fanconi Anemia (FANC-BRCA) pathway via promoter methylation of the FANCF gene has been proposed to be responsible for variation in cisplatinum (CDDP) sensitivity seen in ovarian and HNSCCs. Promoter methylation of the FANCF gene has been observed in 15% of HNSCC specimens, but the relationship to FANC pathway activation and CDDP sensitivity has not been reported. In the present study, 10 HNSCC cell lines were examined for expression of nine genes involved in the FANC-BRCA pathway by RT-PCR: FANCA, FANCC, FANCD2, FANCE, FANCF, FANCG, FANCL, BRCA1 and BRCA2. FANC pathway function was evaluated by western blotting for FANCD2 mono-ubiquitination. All of the cell lines were also analyzed for variation in CDDP cytotoxicity. While significant differences were found in CDDP cytotoxicity, Fanconi pathway defects are an infrequent cause, as no evidence of transcriptional down-regulation of FANCF or other FANC mRNAs, or functional FANC-BRCA pathway defects were observed. These findings suggest that the variation in CDDP sensitivity of many HNSCCs is most frequently due to factors other than FANC-BRCA pathway inactivation.