Cancers, Vol. 16, Pages 1205: Exploring Immunological Effects and Novel Immune Adjuvants in Immunotherapy for Salivary Gland Cancers

Cancers, Vol. 16, Pages 1205: Exploring Immunological Effects and Novel Immune Adjuvants in Immunotherapy for Salivary Gland Cancers Cancers doi: 10.3390/cancers16061205 Authors: Ryosuke Sato Hidekiyo Yamaki Hiroki Komatsuda Risa Wakisaka Takahiro Inoue Takumi Kumai Miki Takahara Salivary gland cancer (SGC) is rare and comprises over 20 histological subtypes. Recently, clinical experience regarding immunotherapies for SGCs has been accumulating, yet their efficacy remains controversial. Understanding the tumor microenvironment (TME), including the expression of immune checkpoint molecules in SGC, is crucial to optimizing immunotherapy. In this review, we demonstrate that high-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma and salivary duct carcinoma generally exhibit immune-hot TME with high immune cell infiltration, frequent genetic mutations, and robust immune checkpoint molecule expression. In contrast, adenoid cystic carcinomas exhibit an immune-cold TME. While the reported efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for SGCs is generally poor, several studies showed promising clinical efficacy of ICIs, with an objective response rate ranging from 20.0–33.3%, indicating that ICIs might be beneficial for a specific population of SGC. Molecule-targeted therapies including anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 and anti-androgen receptor therapies have shown promising clinical efficacy against SGC. Recent evidence indicates that these molecules c...
Source: Cancers - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: Review Source Type: research