Systemic Inflammatory Disorders, Immunosuppressive Treatment and Increase Risk of Head and Neck Cancers-A Narrative Review of Potential Physiopathological and Biological Mechanisms

Cells. 2023 Sep 1;12(17):2192. doi: 10.3390/cells12172192.

Abstract

Head and neck cancers (HNCs) are known to present multiple factors likely to influence their development. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current scientific literature on the interplay between systemic inflammatory disorders, immunosuppressive treatments and their synergistic effect on HNC risk. Both cell-mediated and humoral-mediated systemic inflammatory disorders involve dysregulated immune responses and chronic inflammation and these inflammatory conditions have been associated with an increased risk of HNC development, primarily in the head and neck region. Likewise, the interaction between systemic inflammatory disorders and immunosuppressive treatments appears to amplify the risk of HNC development, as chronic inflammation fosters a tumor-promoting microenvironment, while immunosuppressive therapies further compromise immune surveillance and anti-tumor immune responses. Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying this interaction is crucial for developing targeted prevention strategies and therapeutic interventions. Additionally, the emerging field of immunotherapy provides potential avenues for managing HNCs associated with systemic inflammatory disorders, but further research is needed to determine its efficacy and safety in this specific context. Future studies are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and optimize preventive strategies and therapeutic interventions.

Keywords: head and neck cancers; immunosuppression; systemic inflammatory diseases.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Head and Neck Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppression Therapy
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Immunotherapy
  • Inflammation
  • Tumor Microenvironment

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents

Grants and funding

This work was financed by FEDER—Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional through the COMPETE 2020—Operational Program for Competitiveness and Internationalization (POCI), Portugal 2020, and by Portuguese funds through FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, in the framework of the projects in CINTESIS, R&D Unit (reference UIDB/4255/2020) and within the scope of the project RISE—LA/P/0053/2020. N.V. also acknowledges the support from FCT and FEDER (European Union), award number IF/00092/2014/CP1255/CT0004 and CHAIR in Onco-Innovation at FMUP.