Deciphering the role of HPV-mediated metabolic regulation in shaping the tumor microenvironment and its implications for immunotherapy in HNSCC

Xiangjin Gong; Jingwen Xiong; Yu Gong; Jieying Zhang; Jinhao Zhang; Guanhu Yang; Hao Chi; Gang Tian

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1275270

Deciphering the role of HPV-mediated metabolic regulation in shaping the tumor microenvironment and its implications for immunotherapy in HNSCC

Front Immunol. 2023 Oct 9:14:1275270. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1275270. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Xiangjin Gong¹, Jingwen Xiong¹, Yu Gong¹, Jieying Zhang^{2

3}, Jinhao Zhang⁴, Guanhu Yang⁵, Hao Chi⁶, Gang Tian^{7

8

9

10}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Sports Rehabilitation, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.
² First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
³ National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China.
⁴ School of Stomatology, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.
⁵ Department of Specialty Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, United States.
⁶ Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.
⁷ Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.
⁸ Department of Laboratory Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.
⁹ Sichuan Province Engineering Technology Research Center of Molecular Diagnosis of Clinical Diseases, Luzhou, China.
¹⁰ Molecular Diagnosis of Clinical Diseases Key Laboratory of Luzhou, Luzhou, China.

Abstract

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), as a complex and variable malignancy, poses a significant threat to human health. Since the intricate association between HPV and HNSCC emerged, its role within the TME has garnered extensive attention. HPV+HNSCC exhibits distinct immunological characteristics within the TME, intricately intertwined with mechanisms of immune evasion. HPV employs multifaceted pathways to intervene in metabolic regulation within the TME, exerting influence over immune cell functionality and neoplastic cell genesis. Furthermore, the heightened immune reactivity exhibited by HPV+HNSCC within the TME augments responses to immune interventions such as immune checkpoint inhibitors. Therefore, amidst the current limitations of therapeutic approaches, immunotherapy stands as a promising strategy to overcome the conventional confines of treating HNSCC. This article comprehensively outlines the impact of HPV on the inception and progression of HNSCC while discussing the amalgamation of metabolic regulation within the TME and immunotherapeutic strategies. By intervening in the reciprocal interactions between HPV and HNSCC within the TME, the potential to modulate the efficacy of immune-based treatments becomes evident. Concurrently, a synthesis of pertinent biomarker development is summarized. Such endeavors hold paramount significance for personalized therapeutic approaches and the more effective management of HNSCC patients.

Keywords: HNSCC; HPV; immunotherapy; markers; tumor viruses; tumor viruses microenvironment.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Head and Neck Neoplasms* / therapy
Humans
Immunotherapy
Papillomavirus Infections* / therapy
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / therapy
Tumor Microenvironment

Grants and funding

The authors declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This study was supported by grants from the Luzhou Science and Technology Department Applied Basic Research program (No: 2022-JYJ-145), the Sichuan Province Science and Technology Department of foreign (border) high-end talent introduction project (No: 2023JDGD0037), and Sichuan Provincial Medical Association (No: Q22027).