TY - JOUR
T1 - The prognostic role of NK cells and their ligands in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
T2 - a systematic review and meta-analysis
AU - Bisheshar, Sangeeta K.
AU - De Ruiter, Emma J.
AU - Devriese, Lot A.
AU - Willems, Stefan M.
N1 - © 2020 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2020/1/1
Y1 - 2020/1/1
N2 - Background: Despite the improvement in therapeutic interventions, 5-year survival rates in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) are limited. HNSCC is an immunogenic cancer type for which molecular stratification markers are lacking. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) have shown a favorable prognostic role in different cancer types. This study focused on the prognostic role of NK cells in HNSCC. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in Pubmed/Medline and Embase. Articles that correlated the presence of intratumoral NK cells, activating/inhibiting receptors, death receptors, or their ligands with clinicopathologic characteristics or survival were included. A meta-analysis was performed that assessed the association between CD56+ and CD57+ and overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and progression-free survival (PFS). Results: A pooled analysis indicated a favorable prognostic role of CD56+ and CD57+ NK cells for OS (HR 0.19 CI 0.11–0.35). NK cell markers NKp46 and Granzyme B (GrB) also have a favorable prognostic role. NK cell ligand Fas correlated with better survival and better characteristics. NK cell marker Fas-L, NK cell ligands CEACAM1, RCAS1, CD70 and TRAIL-R, and effector molecules of these ligands, FADD and FAP1, correlated to features of worse prognosis. Conclusion: A favorable prognostic role of NK cells in HNSCC was found in this review. Some studies implied the opposite, indicating the fine balance between pro- and anti-tumor functions of NK cells. Future studies using homogeneous patient cohorts regarding tumor subsite and treatment modality, are necessary to further provide insight into the prognostic role of NK cells.
AB - Background: Despite the improvement in therapeutic interventions, 5-year survival rates in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) are limited. HNSCC is an immunogenic cancer type for which molecular stratification markers are lacking. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) have shown a favorable prognostic role in different cancer types. This study focused on the prognostic role of NK cells in HNSCC. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in Pubmed/Medline and Embase. Articles that correlated the presence of intratumoral NK cells, activating/inhibiting receptors, death receptors, or their ligands with clinicopathologic characteristics or survival were included. A meta-analysis was performed that assessed the association between CD56+ and CD57+ and overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and progression-free survival (PFS). Results: A pooled analysis indicated a favorable prognostic role of CD56+ and CD57+ NK cells for OS (HR 0.19 CI 0.11–0.35). NK cell markers NKp46 and Granzyme B (GrB) also have a favorable prognostic role. NK cell ligand Fas correlated with better survival and better characteristics. NK cell marker Fas-L, NK cell ligands CEACAM1, RCAS1, CD70 and TRAIL-R, and effector molecules of these ligands, FADD and FAP1, correlated to features of worse prognosis. Conclusion: A favorable prognostic role of NK cells in HNSCC was found in this review. Some studies implied the opposite, indicating the fine balance between pro- and anti-tumor functions of NK cells. Future studies using homogeneous patient cohorts regarding tumor subsite and treatment modality, are necessary to further provide insight into the prognostic role of NK cells.
KW - Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)
KW - prognostic biomarkers
KW - systematic review
KW - NK cell markers
KW - NK cells
KW - NK cells
KW - NK cell markers
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85084467537&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/2162402X.2020.1747345
DO - 10.1080/2162402X.2020.1747345
M3 - Review article
C2 - 32363116
AN - SCOPUS:85084467537
SN - 2162-4011
VL - 9
JO - OncoImmunology
JF - OncoImmunology
IS - 1
M1 - 1747345
ER -