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Poster session 03

921P - Divergent fates: The ambiguous role of M2-like TAMs in oropharyngeal cancer

Date

14 Sep 2024

Session

Poster session 03

Topics

Tumour Immunology

Tumour Site

Head and Neck Cancers

Presenters

Michael Saerens

Citation

Annals of Oncology (2024) 35 (suppl_2): S613-S655. 10.1016/annonc/annonc1594

Authors

M. Saerens1, M.J.R. Struys2, W. Huvenne3, S. Rottey1, F. Cordier4, S. fadei4, D. Creytens4, W. Waelput5, T. Vermassen6, J. Debacker7

Author affiliations

  • 1 Department Of Medical Oncology, UZ Gent - University Hospital Ghent, 9000 - Gent/BE
  • 2 Department Of Head And Skin, Ghent University Open and Hogeschool, 9040 - Gent/BE
  • 3 Head And Neck Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 - Gent/BE
  • 4 Pathology, UZ Gent - University Hospital Ghent, 9000 - Gent/BE
  • 5 Pathology, UZ Brussel - Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, 1090 - Jette/BE
  • 6 Medical Oncology, UZ Gent - Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent, 9000 - Gent/BE
  • 7 Molecular Imaging And Therapy Research Group (mith), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1090 - Jette/BE

Resources

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Abstract 921P

Background

Incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) increases due to rise in human papilloma virus (HPV) related cancers. The tumor microenvironment (TME) of HPV+ OPSCC is characterized as more immune tolerant, with higher density of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). The role of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) remains unclear. M2-like TAMs are correlated with impaired overall survival (OS) in other tumor types. This study characterizes the prognostic impact of M2-like TAMs in OPSCC.

Methods

Fifty-eight patients with primary OPSCC, undergoing definite treatment (surgery, radiotherapy, chemoradiotherapy or a combination), were included. FFPE samples were stained for P16, TILs (CD3, CD8, FOXP3) and TAMs (CD68, CD163 and CD206) markers. Semi-quantitative assessment of each marker, in the tumor nest(t) and stroma(s), was executed by a board certified pathologist. Survival estimates were calculated via the Kaplan-Meier method using the log-rank test, using the ad hoc calculated cut-off point. Uni- and multivariate analysis were performed via cox proportional hazard model.

Results

The median density of sCD3, sCD8, tCD68 and sCD206 TAMs was higher in P16+, compared to P16–, whereas FOXP3 and CD163 infiltration was similar according to P16 status. In univariate analysis, tumors with high leukocyte infiltrates (sTIL, sCD8, tCD8, sFOXP3, tCD68, sCD206) had a better overall survival (OS), whereas sTIL-high and tCD8-high were the only factors associated with DFS. High tCD68 (HR 0.19) and sCD206 (HR 0.40) were associated with improved OS in P16+ OPSCC, but not in P16-. sCD163 and tCD163 infiltration was not related to adverse outcomes in P16+ nor in P16-. Table: 921P

Clinical and immunohistochemical characteristics

P16- P16+ p value
N 39 19
mean Age (y, SD) 58.8y (8.0) 59.8y (8.8) 0.65
mDFS (months, 95%CI) 14.4m (7.8-48)* 158m (30-NR)*

Conclusions

In this study, high tCD68 and sCD206 expression was associated with a better OS in OPSCC, albeit only in P16+ tumors. No concordance was found between CD163 and CD206 expression and both had a different prognostic impact. This illustrates the complexity of TIL-TAM interplay and the TAM spectrum diversity.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

Ghent University Hospital.

Funding

Ghent University Hospital Fonds voor Innovatie en Klinisch Onderzoek (FIKO).

Disclosure

M. Saerens: Financial Interests, Institutional, Invited Speaker: Pierre-Fabre, BMS, MSD; Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board: Novartis, MSD. S. Rottey: Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board: Pfizer, Merck, Roche, Ipsen, BMS; Financial Interests, Institutional, Invited Speaker: Ipsen, BMS, Astellas; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: MSD, Roche, BMS; Non-Financial Interests, Principal Investigator, It is my main task in the hospital to attract and perform clinical trials in oncology phase I-III: all companies performing clinical trials in oncology in Europe. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

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