Treatment-induced changes of lymphocyte subsets in patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck

Abstract

Purpose

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the head and neck is a rare and highly malignant tumor, characterized by perineural growth and early distant metastases. The composition of immune cells in the peripheral blood and the tumor microenvironment is critical to tumor growth and control. However, little is known about the frequency and function of the relevant immune cell subsets in this entity.

Methods

In ACC patients (n = 11) and matched healthy donors (n = 11), the frequency of peripheral blood T and B cells was measured by flow cytometry at different treatment stages of disease (24 samples). Cells were further characterized by their expression of CCR7, PD-1, CD39 and CD73. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for ten patients and for three patients by flow cytometry.

Results

CD4⁺ T cells had significantly lower frequency after radiotherapy (RT). All other cell frequencies, including T_reg, were stable through course of the disease. In B cells, CD73 was reduced after RT. CCR7 expression on T and B cells in patients with relapse/metastases (R/M) differed significantly from patients with active disease. PD-1 remained stable. T_reg were more present in TIL compared to peripheral blood.

Conclusion

Composition of lymphocyte subgroups behaves similar to squamous cell carcinoma in the head and neck, except for T_reg, which remained stable. Nevertheless, the CD4⁺/T_reg ratio was lower after RT, which could stand for an immunosuppressive effect in these patients. Therefore, it could be beneficial treating ACC with combined RT and immunomodulatory drugs.

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