Work

A Practical Method for Detecting Prognostic CD57 + T Cells in Head and Neck Cancer

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Recurrence of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) affects nearly half of patients and greatly reduces survival. There are currently no well-established mechanisms to predict which HNSCC patients will experience disease recurrence. We have previously shown that an elevated proportion of highly differentiated, CD57+ effector memory T (HD TEMRA) cells in circulation is associated with early recurrence and poor locoregional disease control in HNSCC patients. METHODS: Here, we present refined flow cytometry panels utilizing fewer fluorescent antibodies that retain the prognostic value of HD TEMRA cells in predicting HNSCC recurrence. RESULTS: In our cohort of surgically treated HNSCC patients, identifying HD TEMRA cells via flow cytometry as live CD8+ CD28- CD57+ cells effectively predicted disease recurrence. When assessing this cohort by disease subsite, we found that for patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma, identifying HD TEMRA cells by CD8+ CD57+ alone was sufficient for predicting locoregional disease recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: These refined panels enhance the clinical utility of HD TEMRA proportion as a biomarker due to their technical and analytic ease. Implementation of HD TEMRA cell proportion as a clinical biomarker could aid in personalized HNSCC treatment planning.

Source: Head & Neck

DOI: 10.1002/hed.70074

Authors: Brianna Brammer, Brendan L. C. Kinney, Vikash Kansal, Nicole C. Schmitt

Institutions: Emory University, Winship Cancer Institute

Language: English

Topic: Head and Neck Cancer Studies

Subfield: Otorhinolaryngology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: Winship Cancer Institute, National Cancer Institute