NUMERO: #20250332

Título: SPATIAL PROTEOMIC AND GENE EXPRESSION PROFILING OF THE IMMUNE MICROENVIRONMENT IN OROPHARYNGEAL CANCER

Nome do Apresentador: Juliana Mota SIQUEIRA

Categoria do Trabalho: Painel de pesquisa científica (PPC)

Área Temática: Oncologia

Resumo: Objective: To characterize key tumor immune microenvironment (TiME) components in Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) based on HPV status, tobacco exposure, and clinical outcomes. Study Design: Two tissue microarrays with primary OSCC samples were analyzed using imaging mass cytometry (33 metal-tagged panel) and NanoString gene expression. Visiopharm® software enabled tissue segmentation (tumor/stroma) and single-cell analysis. Statistical analysis compared cell types and densities across subgroups and correlated with clinical outcomes. Results: A total of 125 patients from two high-volume cancer centers was retrospectively analyzed. Most patients were male (82%), with a median age of 60, smoking history (67%), and HPV positivity (65%). Most underwent chemoradiotherapy (48%), and 28% experienced recurrence. Immune cells were more abundant in the stroma, but intratumoral populations had greater prognostic relevance. HPV-positive tumors showed richer lymphocytic infiltration, while HPV-negative tumors had more macrophages and neutrophils. Recurrence was linked to neutrophils, macrophages, eosinophils, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells, whereas dendritic cells and intratumoral lymphocytes were associated with better outcomes and overall survival. Most TiME cell populations differed between HPV-positive and HPV-negative tumors, regardless of smoking. Conclusion: This study reveals distinct TiME profiles by HPV and smoking status, identifies prognostic immune cells, and supports personalized approaches for OSCC management.

Autor 1:  Juliana Mota SIQUEIRA

E-mail 1:  [email protected]

Autor 2:   Luana Guimaraes de SOUSA

E-mail 2:  [email protected]

Autor 3 :  Daniel McGrail

E-mail 3:  [email protected]

Autor 4:  Fabio Daumas Nunes

E-mail 4:  [email protected]

Autor 5:  Leandro Luongo de Matos

E-mail 5:  [email protected]

Autor 6:  Renata Ferrarotto

E-mail 6:  [email protected]