Original Article

Serum IL10 and circulating CD4+CD25high regulatory T cell numbers as predictors of clinical outcome and survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma†

  1. Osama Alhamarneh MRCS,
  2. Frank Agada FRCS,
  3. Leigh Madden PhD,
  4. Nicholas Stafford FRCS,
  5. John Greenman PhD*

Article first published online: 19 JUL 2010

DOI: 10.1002/hed.21464

Issue

Head & Neck

Head & Neck

Volume 33, Issue 3, pages 415–423, March 2011

Additional Information

How to Cite

Alhamarneh, O., Agada, F., Madden, L., Stafford, N. and Greenman, J. (2011), Serum IL10 and circulating CD4+CD25high regulatory T cell numbers as predictors of clinical outcome and survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Head Neck, 33: 415–423. doi: 10.1002/hed.21464

Author Information

  1. Centre for Biomedical Research, Division of Cancer, Hull York Medical School, The University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull, HU6 7RX, United Kingdom

*Centre for Biomedical Research, Division of Cancer, Hull York Medical School, The University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull, HU6 7RX, United Kingdom

  1. †

    Parts of this work were presented at the Joint The Royal Society of Medicine/British Association of Otorhinolaryngologists-Head and Neck Surgeons (RSM/ENT) United Kingdom Annual Meeting, London, September 2007, and at the 112th American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, September 2008.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 11 FEB 2011
  2. Article first published online: 19 JUL 2010
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 30 MAR 2010

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Keywords:

  • IL10;
  • IL12;
  • regulatory T cells;
  • antitumor immunity;
  • HNSCC

Abstract

Background.

Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) commonly have an imbalance in T helper (Th)1/Th2-type cytokines and elevated levels of CD4+CD25high regulatory T cells (Treg). Here, we investigated the association of circulating interleukin (IL)10, IL12, and Treg-cells with clinical outcome in patients with HNSCC.

Methods.

Serum cytokine levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in patients' pretreatment (n = 107) and 4 to 6 weeks posttreatment (n = 43), and in nontumor controls (n = 40). Treg-cell levels were determined by flow cytometry.

Results.

IL10 detectability was significantly higher in patients than controls (p = .001). Pretreatment IL10 levels in all anatomical subsites, except the oral cavity, were significantly elevated in stages III/IV, N+ patients, and in T3/4-tumors (p = .005, .037, and .001, respectively). The detectability of IL10 significantly correlated with poorer survival after a maximum follow-up of 36 months. Treg-cell levels did not correlate with any clinical parameters.

Conclusion.

IL10 is a potential independent factor in predicting a poor clinical outcome in newly presenting tumors of laryngeal and pharyngeal origin. The role of circulating Treg-cells as predictors of clinical outcome requires further investigation. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2010

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