AUTHOR=Kulasinghe Arutha , Taheri Touraj , O’Byrne Ken , Hughes Brett G. M. , Kenny Liz , Punyadeera Chamindie 

TITLE=Highly Multiplexed Digital Spatial Profiling of the Tumor Microenvironment of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2020

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2020.607349

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2020.607349

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=Background
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have shown durable and long-term benefits in a subset of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. To identify patient-responders from non-responders, biomarkers are needed which are predictive of outcome to ICI therapy. Cues in the tumour microenvironment (TME) have been informative in understanding the tumour-immune contexture. 
Methods
In this preliminary study, the NanoString GemoMx™ Digital Spatial Profiling (DSP) technology was used to determine the immune marker and compartment specific measurements in a cohort of HNSCC tumours from patients receiving ICI therapy. 
Results
Our data revealed that markers involved with immune cell infiltration (CD8 T-cells) were not predictive of outcome to ICI therapy. Rather, a number of immune cell types (CD4, CD68, CD45, CD44, CD66b) were found to correlate with progressive disease. 
Conclusion
This study, to our knowledge, represents the first digital spatial analysis of HNSCC tumours. A larger cohort of HNSCC will be required to orthogonally validate the findings.